Fundora Stops Thurman in 6; Retains Super Welterweight Title
Sebastian Fundora stopped former unified world champion Keith Thurman in round six to retain to the WBC Super Welterweight title at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Fundora took the first three round to establish his jab and follow with right hands and uppercuts.
In round three, Thurman started to swell around the right eye. In round six, Thurman’s left eye was a bloody mess. In round six, Fundora turned up the pressure and began to batter Thurman all over the ring and the fight was stopped at 1:17.
Fundora, 153.6 lbs of Coachella, CA is 24-1-1 with 16 knockouts. Thurman152.6 lbs of Clearwater, FL is 31-2.
Tellez Decisions Mendoza
Yoenis Tellez won a 10-round unanimous decision over Brian Mendoza in a super welterweight bout.
In round two, Tellez was cut badly on his nose from an accidental headbut.
In round eight, Mendoza was cut around the left eye from an accidental haedbutt.
Tellez landed 147 of 435 punches. Mendoza was 125 of 501.
Tellez, 153.8 lbs of Santiago De Cuba, CUB won by scores of 98-92 and 97-93 twice and is now 12-1. Mendoza, 153.2 lbs of Las Vegas is 23-5.
Hernandez Stops Gausha in 5
Yoenli Hernandez stopped former two-time world title challenger in round five of their 10-round middleweight fight.
Hernandez landed thudding power shots throughout until the fight was stopped at 1:17.
Hernandez, 158.4 lbs of Camaguay, CUB is 10-0 with nine knockouts. Gausha, 160.8 lbs of Cleveland is 21-6-1.
Hovhannisyan Stops Navarro in Five
Massive heavyweight Gurgen Hovhannisyan in round five stopped Cesar Navarro of a 10-round bout.
Hovhannisyan dominated using mostly the jab and in round five, Hovhannisyan turned it up and battered Navarro in both hands until the bout was stopped at 2:45.
Hovhannisyan, 281.4 lbs of Los Angeles is 10-0 with nine knockouts. Navarro, 210.2 lbs pf Phoenix is 15-4.
Kevin Newman II won a 10-round majority decision over Elijah Garcia in a super middleweight bout.
Newman, 171.4 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 98-92, 06-94and 95-95 and is now 19-3-1; Garcia, 171.4 ls of Phoenix is 17-2.
Bryan Gonzalez stopped Brandon Medina in round five of their six-round featherweight bout.
Gonzalez, 125 lbs of Phoenix is 6- with four knockouts. Medina, 124.6 lbs of Mexico is 7-5
Kaipo Gallegos got dropped for the first time in his career, but he was able to shake it off and win a 10-round unanimous decision over Julian Gonzalez in a lightweight bout.
In round three, Gonzales dropped Gallegos with a straight right on the chin. That was the only blemish for Gallegos as he countered very well thtoughout.
Gallegos, 134.3 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 98-91 and 97-92 twice and is now 12-0-1. Gonzalez, 134.2 lbs of Reading, PA is 16-2-1.
RISING STAR ELIJAH GARCIA BATTLES CONTENDER KEVIN NEWMAN II HEADLINING THREE-FIGHT FIRST ON PRIME LINEUP SATURDAY, MARCH 28 ON PRIME VIDEO
LAS VEGAS – March 20, 2026 – Exciting young star Elijah Garcia will face veteran super middleweight contender Kevin Newman II in the 10-round super middleweight main event of a three-fight FIRST ON PRIME lineup taking place Saturday, March 28 streaming live and for free on Prime Video from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The streaming presentation begins at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT with rising teenage sensation Kaipo Gallegos dueling once-beaten Julian Gonzalez in a 10-round lightweight attraction, and will also feature undefeated featherweight prospect Brayan Gonzalez taking on Mexico’s Brandon Guerrero in a six-round showdown.
These matchups lead into a jam-packed PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT headlined by WBC Super Welterweight World Champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora defending his world title against former unified world champion Keith “One Time” Thurman.
Tickets for the live event are on sale now through AXS.com.
In addition to being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets as well as PPV.com.
The event is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing.
**ELIJAH GARCIA VS. KEVIN NEWMAN II**
Headlining on Prime Video, 22-year-old rising star Elijah Garcia will make his debut at the full super middleweight limit as he takes on streaking battle-tested veteran Kevin Newman II, who enters this 10-round fight on a seven-bout winning streak.
Fighting out of Phoenix, Arizona, García (17-1, 13 KOs) most recently rose from the canvas to take home a split-decision against Terrell Gausha last March, getting back in the win column after coming up short on the cards against Kyrone Davis in June 2024. Garcia had previously burst onto the scene as a teenager by earning three impressive victories in 2023. He kicked off that memorable campaign in March with a knockout of the previously unbeaten Amilcar Vidal and followed that up with a pair of performances on the undercards of two of the biggest events of the year. He first defeated Kevin Salgado on the Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia pay-per-view in April before knocking out current super middleweight champion Armando Resendiz on the Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo pay-per-view in September.
“I’m excited to headline on Prime Video on March 28,” said Garcia. “I’m working hard and can’t wait to show everything we’ve been working on in camp. This is a big opportunity to make a statement at super middleweight and I’m gonna make the most of it.”
Originally from Los Angeles and now fighting out of Las Vegas, Newman (18-3-1, 11 KOs) has put together seven consecutive victories dating back to 2021. This run includes two 2025 triumphs that saw him beat Alan Campa by unanimous decision last March before most recently defeating Malcolm Jones by seventh-round stoppage last July. The 34-year-old put together this run after a pair of close decision defeats to Genc Plllana and Manuel Gallegos. Newman’s first blemish came via a decision loss to Marcos Hernandez, which he later avenged in near shutout fashion. Newman turned pro in 2014, reeling off seven-straight wins after a split-draw in his pro debut.
“I want to thank everyone who made this opportunity possible,” said Newman. “I’m looking forward to getting into the ring on March 28 and showcasing my skills. I’m coming to put on a dominant performance from start to finish.”
**KAIPO GALLEGOS VS. JULIAN GONZALEZ**
At just 19-years-old, undefeated lightweight prospect Kaipo Gallegos will square off against a skilled 24-year-old contender in Julian Gonzalez for a 10-round battle as Gallegos looks to shine on a big stage and elevate his status as one of boxing’s top young prospects.
Fighting out of his native Las Vegas, Gallegos (11-0-1, 9 KOs) earned three victories in 2025, including a stoppage of the previously unbeaten Pedro Castaneda Castro in May. Most recently, Gallegos had a successful 2026 debut January, as he picked up a TKO victory over then-undefeated Wilson Akinocho. Stepping into the ring as a pro in Las Vegas for the fourth time on March 28, Gallegos has compiled his unbeaten record following a strong amateur career that included runs to the finals of the 2022 and 2021 U.S. National Championships.
“I’m very thankful for this opportunity to fight in my hometown,” said Gallegos. “This is a big fight for me, and I’m looking to make a statement and put on a great show for the fans and defend my home. I know I’m facing a good opponent who’s coming to take my undefeated record, but we’re more than ready for any challenge we have to overcome. My goal is to be world champion and Gonzalez isn’t gonna stop me.”
Born and raised in Reading, Pennsylvania, Gonzalez (16-1-1, 12 KOs) will step back into the ring after his first career defeat, which came via a split-decision against Jason Sanchez last June. The loss broke a 10-fight winning streak for Gonzalez dating back to the only other blemish on his record, a 2022 majority draw against Ivan Jimenez. Gonzalez will compete in Las Vegas for the first time as a pro when he enters the ring on March 28.
“I can’t wait for March 28,” said Gonzalez. “I feel like this is gonna be an exciting fight and a great night for me. I’ve adjusted some things that had to be adjusted and I think that’s going to play a major role against Gallegos. MGM Grand is one of the places that I always to fight at since I was young and I can’t wait to go there and put on a show.”
**BRAYAN GONZALEZ VS. BRANDON GUERRERO**
Another promising young prospect kicks off the action, as Brayan Gonzalez steps into the ring hoping to make a statement in a six-round featherweight matchup against Mexico’s Brandon Guerrero.
A stablemate of Interim WBC Middleweight Champion Jesus Ramos Jr., Gonzalez (4-0, 3 KOs) is unbeaten in four fights since turning pro in June 2024, in a fight that also took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. An accomplished amateur from Phoenix, Arizona, Gonzalez had two successful outings in 2025 with a pair of stoppage wins. Most recently he beat then undefeated Osiel Flores last May in round three.
The 26-year-old Guerrero (7-4) has faced undefeated opponents in five of his last six fights, including an upset decision victory over Kevin Ayala in March 2025. Representing his native Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico, Guerrero turned pro in January 2020 and scored victories in his first five outings. Most recently Guerrero challenged unbeaten Sachery Sam in December, dropping a six round decision.
# # #
ABOUT FUNDORA VS. THURMAN
Fundora vs. Thurman will see WBC Super Welterweight World Champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora battle former unified champion Keith “One Time” Thurman in the main event of a PBC Pay-Per-View event available on Prime Video on Saturday, March 28 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The action begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will feature exciting super welterweights going toe-to-toe in the co-main event as rising young star Yoenis Tellez duels top contender Brian Mendoza.
The lineup will also feature undefeated top-rated middleweight Yoenli Hernandez stepping in against battle-tested U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in a 10-round bout, plus undefeated heavyweight slugger Gurgen Hovhannisyan steps in to face Cesar Navarro in a 10-round showdown opening the pay-per-view at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
Gloves Off: Fundora vs Thurman is streaming now on Prime Video. Below you can find a YouTube link to the program.
Tickets for the live event are on sale now through AXS.com.
In addition to being available for purchase on Prime Video, regardless of Prime membership, fans will also be able to continue to access the telecast through traditional cable and satellite outlets as well as PPV.com.
The event is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing.
Fundora aims for to be undisputed after stoppage of Booker
LAS VEGAS –It’s beginning to look as if everybody at junior-middleweight is looking up at Sebastian Fundora.
Fundora continued to establish himself as more than just the tallest fighter in the division. He’s also its biggest player, a two-belt champion with a clear path to a chance at winning two more.
“I’d love to be the undisputed champion,” said Fundora (22-1-1 14 KOs), who further secured his place at the top of the 154-pound weight class with a dominant fourth-round stoppage of Choredale Booker (23-2, 13 KOs) Saturday night in a Prime Vision bout at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena. “Whoever they have for me next, I’ll be ready. I want the IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev, plus Xander Zayas is the WBO mandatory. I also want Errol Spence Jr. We have two belts, we have to defend them, and if anyone is willing to unify, let’s do that too.”
Fundora, a 14-1 favorite, left Booker with very little chance at springing an upset. Booker appeared to be confused by Fundora’s unusual height. He’s 6-foot-6.
“He’s so big,” Booker said, ” that it really doesn’t matter where he’s at in the ring. With every step, he’s covering a lot of ground.”
Booker simply could not escape Fundora’s NBA-like dimensions. He was always there, ready to block any of Booker’s shots. Meanwhile, there was Fundora’s reach, long and dangerous.
The most immediate threat to Fundora’s two belts — the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization — appears to be Zayas.. The Purto Rican emerged as a leading contender Friday after Terence Cawford relinquished his interim title, which represents a so-called mandatory challenge. It was no coincidence that Zayas was at ringside Saturday. There’s already talk about a Fundora-Zayas bout — Mexican American versus Purrto Rican — in New York.
“I”d love it in New York,” Zayas said. “But I’d go to the moon to fight him.”
Jesus Ramos scores TKO, possibly puts himself in line for Fundora
Jesus Ramos moved forward and ever closer to shot at a major junior-middleweight title Saturday with poise and patience in a stoppage of Mexican Guido Emmanuel Schramm Saturday.
In the end, it was a powerful statement.delivered by a 24-year fighter from Casa Grande, Ariz.
The message: Ramos (23-1, 19 KOs) will let neither defeat nor injury stand in his way.
In his third straight victory since a lone loss to Erickson Lubin, Ramos overcame a hand injury, stopping Sscramm with an overpowering succession of punches at 1:38 of the seventh at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena.”I had some obstacles.,” said Ramos, who might have put himself in line for a shot at the 154-pound titles retained by Sebastian Fundora in a fourth-round stoppage of Choredale Booker Saturday night in title bout after his victory.”I hurt my hand in the third round, but I battled through it. I made a promise, so I had to get him out of there.
“Overall, I felt good. I did what I wanted. I wanted to get him out of there a little earlier, but he’s a warrior. Everything was working, almost too good. That’s where I hurt my hand and I backed off a bit. It was hurting a lot so I kind of boxed a little bit.
“I was joking with my dad that my previous opponent had stopped Schramm so how could he stop him and I don’t? I’m ready for anybody at 154.”
Schramm (16-4-2, 9 KOs), of LOs Angeles, simply didn;t have the strength to keep Ramos off of him. He complained about the stoppage. But if it hadn’t come in the fourth, it would have happened later. It was inevitable.
“I thought the referee stopped the fight prematurely. I was withstanding Ramos’ shots and countering just fine. I wasn’t exposed or defenseless, I just closed up big in order to counter.
“Ramos was dominating, but it was anybody’s fight since I was also hurting him with my shots. I have to let my hands go more and not allow this to happen again. Bring anybody on. I’ll be back and eager to face the best once again.”
“It was hard to get the finish. He has a lot of heart and he displayed it tonight. I tip my hat to him, he’s a great warrior. Hopefully now I can get the winner of the main event next.”
Elijah Garcia win controversial split-decision over Gausha
Elijah Garcia escaped what would have been a devastating loss Saturday, scoring a controversial split decision over Terrell Gausha
In a desperate fight to avoid a second straight loss, Garcia, a 21-year-old Phoenix middleweight, had to get up from a first-round knockdown. Suddenly, it looked as if Gausha might knock the promise out of Garcia’s future. A crisp right hand sent Garcia, head over heels, onto the canvas. Garcia got up and smiled almost in resignation. He knew perhaps, that the next nine rounds could forever fracture his aspirations.
In the end, he survived, perhaps with consistent aggression and solid body shots. In his won-loss record, it goes down as a victory. But controversy lingers. By definition, a split decision is an argument.
Judges Don Trella and Zachary Young scored it for Garcia. It was 99-94 on Trella’s card. Young scored it, 96-93.
On Chris Magliore’s card, it was 95-94 for Gausha.
The judges’ cards appeared to reflect the unofficial scoring along press row and among the fans at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena. It was split. Some booed. Some cheered. Some scratched their heads in confusion.
“People can think what they want,” said Garcia (17-1, 13 KOs), who had veteran trainer Bob Santos in his corner for the first time. “I went in the ring and fought my ass off against an Olympian. He’s only lost to world champions, and I went in there and beat him. He’s very experienced, very crafty. He was able to do some things that he wanted, but I figured it out as time went on. Whoever thinks I lost, whatever. I won.
“I figured after he dropped me that was the hardest I was going to get hit. I prepared for it 1000%. I don’t control the judges. My job is in the ring. It was a little closer than I thought. For the most part, I controlled the fight. It was a good experience. I am ready for the next one. I never turn down the fight. I’ll fight anybody.”
Like the judges and the crowd, Gausha had a different opinion about what happened. He thought he won
“I just thought I did what I had to do.,” said Gausha (24-5-1, 12 KOs), a 37-year old fighter and 2012 Olympian who has fought and lost for a world title twice. “The decision is unfortunate, but all I can do is try to regroup and get better.”
After the first-round knockdown, Gausha appeared to steal several rounds with a lury of clean shots in the waning seconds of subsequent rounds. He repeatedly caught Gracia with uppercuts. But Garcia’s sustained aggressiveness impressed Trella and Young often enough for him to bank a narrow win, a pivotal one that keeps his career on track.
Freddie Rojas wins unanimous decision
It was awkward. Sometimes ugly. But it was also predictable.
Las Vegas welterweight Freddie Rojas did what he had to, scoring a unanimous decision over Maurice Lee Saturday in the final fight before the Prime Video portion of the card featuring Fundora-Booker at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena.
Mostly, Rojas had to stay unbeaten. Mission accomplished with a scorecard victory that pushed his record to 15-0, 13 victories by stoppage. Lee, of Woodland Hills CA, fell to 16-2-2, six victories by stoppage
Alberto Mora wins unanimous decision
Alberto Mora’s skill set included the kind of precision and patience that count on the scorecards.
Sure enough, it was on the cards that Mora (13-0, 10 KOS) , a junior-lightweight from Mexico City, won a one-sided decision –80-72, 77-75 and 80-72 — over ViktorSlavinski (15-4–1, 7 KOs), a Los Angeles fighter who always seemed to be one step and several points behind in the sixth bout of the Fundora-Booker card Saturday
Robert Guerrero Jr. wins quick stoppage
He’s the son of a legend. He has a name that creates impossible expectations. Robert Guerrero Jr., son of a former featherweight and junior-lightweight champion, began to show he might be able to live up to some of them Saturday.
Guerrero (6-0, 3 KOs) wasted little time, scoring a second-round stoppage and staying unbeaten in a lightweight blowout of Sam Armas (6-2, 3 KOs, of Pomona CA, on the Fundora-Booker card. Guerrero controlled the ring and the pace with an authority that was a sure sign of some merging maturity.
A Junior no more.
POW, Brayan Gonzalez wins TKO
Brayan Gonzalez wore pink into the ring. Across his trunk’s waistband, it said:
POW.
It was more than a message. The POW was real, delivered at the end of a lethal left hand in a Gonzalez fourth-round stoppage of Justin Marquez on the Fundora–Booker card Saturday at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena.
Gonzalez (3-0, 2 KOs), a junior-lightweight from Phoenix, found his range and target early and often against Marquez (5-2, 4 KOs), a Stockton fighter who struggled to mount any kind of counter
De La Certa wins bantamweight blowout
Alexis De La Cerda had power in his hands. Speed in his feet.
Combine the two and the potent mix was just too much for Sharone Carter, who found himself down and done in a third-round bantamweight blowout in the third bout on the Fundora-Booker card Saturday.
De La Certa (6-0, 4 KOs), of Federal Way WA, dropped Carter (14-9-1, 3 KOs), of Saint Louis, early in the third and then again in finishing flurry in the final second of the round
Ezequiel Duran gets up to stay unbeaten
is said to be a prospect.
But he had to prove it. He had to get up.
Duran (5-0, 2 KOs) did, displaying a prospect’s chops in a sixth-round stoppage of Canadian Joseph Brown (4-1, 3 KOs) in the second bout on a card featuring Fundora-Booker Saturday. Brown, a rugged junior-middleweight from Vancouver, dropped Duran with a hard shot midway through the fifth.
Duran, of Amarillo TX, quickly rose to the occasion with an aggressive response. He moved forward, throwing punches at a whirlwind rate that forced Brown into a sudden retreat. Duran’s relentless pressure continued in the sixth with a succession of punches that left Brown defenseless and done at 1:54 of the round.
First Bell: Body-shot KO opens the show
The seats were empty. Only an echo filled the building.
Jursly Vargas produced it, delivering a thundering body shot for a fourth-round knockout of Uhlices Avelino-Reyes in the opener Saturday to a card featuring junior-middleweight Sebastian Fundora’s first title defense against Chordale Booker. Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena
Vargas (5-0, 4 KOs), a stocky lightweight from Rotterdam, worked inside Aerlino-Reyes’ long, lanky reach. In the third, Vargas’ body blows began to hurt Avellino-Reyes (3-2, 2 KOs), of Omaha. In the fourth, the matinee was over when Vargas landed a nasty uppercut that dropped Avelino-Reye to his knees in the final second of the round.
Tank Davis is back with another devastating KO
By Norm Frauenheim —Tank Davis looked vulnerable. The sign was there in an ugly bruise, going from red to crimson, beneath his right eye.
But the bruise might as well have been a mask.
For a while, it hid what has always been there. Davis’ quick-strike power is a dynamic that never stays hidden for long.
It struck all over again, this time dropping a gutsy Frank Martin onto his back alongside the ropes Saturday night in a devastating eighth-round knockout at MGM’s Grand Garden Arena in an Amazon Prime fight for the lightweight title.
Questions, however, were lurking after about 14-month stretch of no bouts and time in jail at home in Baltimore.
Martin hoped he had the ability to exploit them. And, for a while, it looked as if he might. He danced away. He moved inside, he moved outside with enough agility and courage to bruise Davis.
“But I knew, I knew, he’d tire out,’’ Davis said.
He did. Martin’s quick feet began to slow, round-after-round absorbing Tank’s wicked combinations.
At 1:29 of the eighth, it was finally over. Davis rocked Martin (19-1, 12 KOs) with a succession of punches. It looked as if Martin was ready to fall. Davis made sure of it with a left-handed shot that began at his hip and traveled like a menacing meteor in a direct strike on Martin’s exposed chin.
It was over, an exclamation point, a reminder of Davis’ pound-for-pound credentials and perhaps an even bigger opportunity to prove himself on a bigger stage against Vasiliy Lomachenko later this year.
Benavidez scores unanimous decision in 175-pound debut
It was a debut that demanded a difference.
A different David Benavidez.
That’s what he delivered in his first fight at a heavier weight against an experienced and toughened light-heavyweight.
Oleksandr Gvozydk, a former 175-pound champion, endured Benavidez’ whirlwind arsenal early and tested him with his own fundamental power later.
In losing a unanimous decision to Benavidez Saturday night at the MGM’s Grand Garden Arena, the Ukrainian didn’t tame The Monster in a fighter feared at super-middleweight.
But he did counter his evident mean streak with a durability Benavidez has never really encountered.
“I felt like I had a great fight against a great fighter,’’ said Benavidez, who also said he came into the fight with two injuries – a cut over his right eyelid and a torn tendon in his right hand – suffered two weeks ago. “It was a new weight, a different weight.’’
Benavidez left the ring with two things unchanged. He’s still unbeaten (29-0, 24 KOs). And he still intends to pursue a title at super-middleweight. That means Canelo Alvarez, of course.
“We’re going to go back to 168 and go after the title as a mandatory challenger or maybe if the title becomes vacant,’’ Benavidez said.
That of course, depends on what Canelo decides. But it’s safe to assume he was watching.
Early on, what he and a roaring crowd saw was the Benavidez they witnessed at super-middle.
He came out in the first round, shuffling, side
to-side while displaying some newfound head movement.
His father and trainer, Jose Benavidez Sr. had promised a renewed emphasis on defense and his son didn’t disappoint, at least not through the first three minutes.
In the second and third, there were moments when the 27-year-old Benavidez made the 37-year-old Gvozdyk (20-2, 16 KOs) look stiff, if not awkward.
The Ukrainian wasn’t exactly a stationary target. But he was there, in front of Benavidez, and open to a wide variety of punches thrown at alternating angles and speeds.
Gvozdyk couldn’t dodge them all. Benavidez’ punches are like debris in a tornado. They’re coming from everywhere. Example: In the sixth round, it looked as if Gvozdyk had begun to find his range with straight-handed shots.
They were beginning to slow down Benavidez. But in a momentary switch of momentum, Benavidez unleashed a triple shot – three right hands, each from a different angle and all three travelling at a blinding velocity.
From round-to-later round, however, Gvozdyk was there, an edifice impossible to bring down. Benavidez tried in an apparent attempt to fulfill his promised knockout.
Instead of a KO, however, there was only fatigue to go along with another victory in his introduction to a bout that also provided a reminder: There’s a reason for weight classes.
Puello scores SD over Russell/Tank-Martin card
Alberto Puello survived.
He survived a penalty for holding.
He survived a scorecard that suggested he never had a chance.
Turns out, survival was sweet.
Puello scored a split decision over a stronger, quicker Gary Russell (17-1, 17 KOs) for an interim junior-welterweight belt Saturday on the Amazon Prime card featuring David Benavidez-OleksansdrGvodzykand Tank Davis-Frank Martin Saturday at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.
Puello (23-0, 10 KOs), of The Dominican Republic, won on two cards, 114-113 and 115-113. It was a close fight from almost every perspective but one. Judge David Hudson scored it for Russell, 118-109
It was a hard fight to watch. A hard fight to score, too.
But Carlos Adames (24-1, 18 KOs) did what he had to, keeping the World Boxing Council’s version of the middleweight title with a unanimous decision over Terrell Gausha Saturday on the Amazon Prime card featuring David Benavidez-Oleksandr Gvozdyk and Tank Davis-Frank Martin.
One-sided scorecards — 118-110, 119-109, 118-110 — make it sound as if Adames, of The Dominican Republic, had an easy day at the office. He didn’t. Gausha (24-4-1, 12 KOs) tested him repeatedly in the later rounds. But it was never quite enough for the middleweight from Encino CA to sore an upset.
Kyrone Davis scores split-decision over Elijah Garcia
Elijah Garcia made the weight.
But lost the fight.
Kyrone Davis (19-3-1, 6 KOs) took some of the promise out of Garcia’s ambitious career Saturday with a careful, yet effective pace Saturday, scoring a split decision over the Phoenix middleweight in a bout that was preceded by controversy.
Late Friday, there were doubts about whether the bout, already postponed once, would even happen.
Garcia missed weight, coming in at 165.4 pounds and then 163. Davis was at 160.4.
Davis trainer Stephen Breadman Edwards demanded that Garcia weigh-in again Saturday morning, a few hours before opening bell at MGM’s Grand Garden Arena.
Breadman threatened to cancel the bout if Gracia was heavier than 173 pounds in the morning weigh-in. He wasn’t. According to the official bout sheet, he was at 163.2. The fight was on, but the early pace belonged to Davis.
He came into the ring looking angry, perhaps anxious to take out some frustration on Garcia (16-1, 13 KOs). At opening bell, however, he exhibited only poise. He patiently measured the distance between him and Gracia with a jab. Then, he followed with repeated rights.
For four or five rounds, Gracia looked tentative, perhaps because of the weight controversy or maybe because of Davis’ tactical patience.
Whatever it was, the slow start proved costly. Davis won on two cards, both by 97-93 scores. On the third card, it was 98-92 for Garcia, who stepped up the pace and his level of aggression, especially from the seventh through the 10th rounds. The Arizona southpaw moved forward, trying to walk down Davis while also landing a succession of head-rocking combos.
But, in the end, it wasn’t enough to save Garcia from his first pro defeat, a loss and perhaps a lesson for a young fighter
Magsayo wins one-sided decision
Mark Magsayo (26-2, 17 KOs), a Filipino junior-lightweight, scored a third-round knockdown and then scored repeatedly over the next seven rounds for a decision — as thorough as it was unanimous — over Mexican Eduardo Ramirez (28-4-3,13 KOs) in the sixth bout on the Tank-Martin card Saturday.
After Magsayo rocked Ramirez with an uppercut and then dropped him with a straight hand, Los Mochis fighter continued, but never with much purpose or energy in what what turned into a dull bout.
Justin Viloria stays unbeaten, scores fifth-round TKO
Justin Villoria (6-0, 4 KOs), a 19-year-old junior-lightweight from Whittier CA, had all of the energy and most of the punches in overwhelming Mexican Angel Contreras Saturday on the Tank Davis-Frank Martin card.
Villoria knocked down Contreras (15-9, 9 KOs) in the fourth and again the fifth, both times with body punches. Seconds after the second knockdown, an exhausted Contreras took a knee, a TKO surrender at 2:02 of the fifth round.
Phoenix junior-featherweight impressive in pro debut
Hello, Brayan Gonzalez.
Gonzalez, a junior-featherweight from Phoenix, was impressive in his professional debut, scoring a first-round knockdown and staggering James Mulder again in the fourth in an afternoon bout hours before the Tank Davis-Frank Martin main event..
Mulder (0-2), of Antioch CA, never had a chance. Never scored a point either. It was 40-35 on all three cards, all for Gonzalez (1-0).
Benavidez-trained Blancas stays unbeaten with first-round stoppage
David Benavidez’ stable is 2-0 through the early fights on a card that will feature its star attraction Saturday night in a light-heavyweight debut against Oleksandr Gvozdyk.
Daniel Blancas (10-0, 5 KOs), a super-middleweight from Milwaukee, didn’t waste any time, flashing Benavidez-like power with a sweeping hook for a first-round stoppage of German Aro Schwartz (23-8-1, 15 KOs).
Ohio junior lightweight does enough to win majority decision
It was a hard fight to score. Neither fighter did much, but Peggy Whitmore (3-0), a junior-lightweight from Ohio, did more, winning a majority decision (39–37, 39-37, 38-38) over Mia Ellis (7-3, 6 KOs), of Baltimore, in the second bout on the Tank Davis-Frank Martin card
First Bell: Benavidez-trained featherweight opens marathon show with unanimous decision
First bell sounded like a morning alarm.
It echoed through an empty arena, signaling a noon-time start to a card that eventually will feature David Benavidez-versus-Oleksandr Gvozydk in a light-heavyweight fight and Tank Davis-versus-Frank Martin for the lightweight title Saturday at the MGM’s Grand Garden Arena.
Reina Tellez (8-0-1, 5 KOs), a San Antonio featherweight and a fighter in the Benavidez stable, got the marathon started, winning a four-round, unanimous decision over a taller, yet slower Beta Dudek ((4-2, 4 KOs) of Slovakia.