Tahmir Smalls remained undefeated with an eight-round welterweight fight of undefeated welterweights the Red Owl Box Arena in Houston.

Smalls, 147.6 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 78-74 and 77-75 twice and is now 12-0. Martin, 147.2 of Atlanta is 10-1.

“My corner told me to keep popping my jab and to keep my hands up,” Smalls noted. “Martin caught me with a right hand or two but that was due to me dropping my left hand. I was picking it up at the end of the fight. I will go back to the gym and work on it.”

“This was my first eight-round fight,” said Smalls. “It was exactly what I expected. But there were a couple of things that I could tighten up on. He was a good opponent and he brought more than I thought but at the end of the day, I handled it the way I was supposed to.” 

Elijah Williams scored a controversial sixth round stoppage over Dion Jones in a eight-round super lightweight fight.

In round one, Jones dropped Williams with a short counter left hook. In round three, Williams was cut over the left eye.

In round six, Williams landed a hard right that hurt Jones. Jones was holding on, but the referee for some reason stopped that bout and the fight was halted at 1:58.

Williams, 145 lbs of Newburgh, NY is 10-1 with four knockouts. Jones, 139.8 lbs of Las Vegas is 7-1.

“I did what I had to do, he is a good fighter,” said Williams. “I got a little careless at times, especially early in the fight.”

“It’s up to the referee how the fight goes,” continued the 21-year-old Williams. “I was going for the kill so all he did was stop it a little early.” 

Joshafat Ortiz survived an opening round knockdown to eek out a six-round unanimous decision over Travis Crawford in a junior lightweight bout.

In round one, Crawford dropped Ortiz with a right uppercut.

Ortiz, 128.8 lbs of Reading, PA won by scores of 58-55 twice and 57-56 and is now 13-1. Crawford, 128.6 lbs of Corpus Christi, TX is 7-3.

“You have instant replay, you saw what happened,” said the 29-year-old Ortiz. “He stepped on my foot but not taking anything away from him.”

“No credit away from my opponent but everytime I come into this ring, I bet on myself and I knew what I could do tonight,” said Ortiz

Dash Simmons stopped Nosa Divine Nehikhare in round four of their six-round light heavyweight bout.

In round three, Simmons dropped Nehihhare with a left hook.

In round four, Simmons landed a left hook to the top of the head that put Nehikhare down again. when he got to his feet, the bout was waved off at 1:10.

Simmons, 182.2 lbs of Ashville, NC is 5-0 with five knockouts. Nehikhare, 181.6 lbs of Kaba, Nigeria is 5-3

“I just had to calm down,” said Simmons. “I competed at a high level in the amateurs and now I am getting back to that in the pros. My coaches told me to keep working my jab because this was the first time I faced a southpaw in the pros. Shout out to Red Owl for this opportunity.”

Steve Cunningham Jr. remained undefeated by winning a four-round majority decision over Rudy Reveles in a junior middleweight fight.

Cunningham, 156 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 39-37 twice and 38-38 and is now 3-0. Reveles, 154.6 lbs of Las Vegas is 1-1.

“I was definitely looking for the knockout but you can’t expect it all the time,” said Cunningham, Jr. “I had a really rough training camp but it’s different in the ring. I just have to get in the ring a little bit more and get the ring rust off – and I will be better. 

“Ever since I was in diapers, I was around high-level boxing,” continued Cunningham, Jr., the son of former two-time cruiserweight world champion Steve Cunningham. “It’s in my blood. It’s nothing you can train for. I feel great and I want to get right back in there. I want to show the world who I am.”

Gustavo Rivera Rio scored six-round unanimous decision over Joseph Cruz in a junior lightweight bout.

Rivera, 130 3/4 lbs of Houston won by scores of 60-54 on all cards and is now 11-1. Cruz, 129 1/2 lbs of Ciudad Obregon, MX is 9-11-1.

“I faced another tough Mexican just like me, I knew he wasn’t going to fall down so I had to put on my boxing skills tonight,” said Rio, who is trained by the renowned Ronnie Shields. “I was landing my left hook so I was told to repeat it and that’s what I did.”

HOUSTON, Texas – October 30, 2024 – Red Owl Boxing’s flagship series BOXFEST will return this Friday, November 1, streaming live on DAZN globally in more than 200 territories and regions from the state-of-the-art “Owl’s Nest” in Houston at 9pm ET/8pm CT.

BOXFEST XII will feature the conclusion of the Shadow FightGoods 140-pound tournament which has played out exclusively on Red Owl Boxing’s BOXFEST series. The two winners of the opening round, Dion Jones (7-0, 6 KOs) and Elijah Williams (9-1, 3 KOs) face off in an eight-round junior welterweight fight. Both fighters edged out decision wins in September on BOXFEST X. 

“It feels good to be back with Red Owl Boxing, fighting on DAZN as the co-main event,” said Williams. “This is a big deal for me and a big deal for my city. I am from Newburgh, New York, the bottom of the bottom. All I know is pain and I’m going to show the world better than I can tell them this Friday.” 

The fight will mark the first eight-round bout for the 21-year-old prospect who turned pro in 2021 and Jones will be the second undefeated fighter Williams has faced in his young career. Despite the step up in competition, the New York native is confident he is built for the moment. 

“I never ever sleep on any opponent and I won’t start now. I look at everyone like they are ‘him’ so that I am mentally strong and prepared,” said Williams. “With that being said, I am going to keep it real – Dion Jones is not on my level. My blood, sweat and tears have been spilled in the sport of boxing for moments like this. I am going to take him to deep waters, places he has never been before and see how he functions when the tide gets rough.” 

Williams began boxing at a young age and was ranked as high as third in USA Boxing’s Junior Division as an amateur. Younger than Jones by five years, “The Bully” enters the Shadow FightGoods 140-pound tournament final with advantages in amateur experience and height. 

“Dion Jones has never been in the ring with someone like me,” noted Williams. “I promise you, I don’t see it going past the sixth round and that is being generous. Stay tuned to this one on Friday night. The whole world will see who ‘The Bully’ is!” 

BOXFEST XII will be headlined by a battle of undefeated welterweights when Philadelphia’s Tahmir Smalls (11-0, 8 KOs) faces Seantorious Martin (10-0, 6 KOs) who hails from Marietta, Georgia, in an eight-round main event. Below is the slate of action starting on DAZN at 9pm ET/8pm CT on Friday: 

BOXFEST XII Main Card on DAZN at 9pm ET/8 CT

Tahmir Smalls (11-0, 8 KOs) vs. Seantorious Martin (10-0, 6 KOs)

8-Round Main Event – 147 lbs.

Dion Jones (7-0, 6 KOs) vs. Elijah Williams (9-1, 3 KOs)

8-Round Co-Main Event – 140 lbs.

Travis Crawford (7-2, 2 KOs) vs. Joshafat Ortiz (12-1, 6 KOs)

6-Round Fight – 130 lbs.

Saundre Simmons (4-0, 4 KOs) vs. Noda Divine Nehikhare (5-2)

6-Round Fight – 185 lbs.

Steve Cunningham (2-0, 2 KOs) vs. Rudy Reveles (1-0, 1 KO)

4-Round Fight – 154 lbs.

Red Owl Boxing owns and operates the state-of-the-art sports performance facility which features seating for more than 1,500 with a modern flare that includes VIP experiences and unique ringside seating. The “Owl’s Nest” is a full-service hospitality venue with high-end sound, lighting and screens for a premier in-arena experience. The venue is outfitted with cutting-edge production for seamless streaming and television presentations.

For more information on Red Owl Boxing and to purchase tickets, visit www.redowlboxing.com. Fans can follow Red Owl Boxing on X, Instagram and YouTube. 

ABOUT RED OWL BOXING 

Red Owl Boxing is a media company that specializes in delivering world-class events from its state-of-the-art sports facilities in the United States and Canada. Red Owl Boxing aims to bring structure to boxing’s middle class by highlighting tomorrow’s future stars and contenders in action-packed fights. Red Owl Boxing launched in 2021 by Canada-based entrepreneur Gabriel Fanous who owns and operates cutting-edge event spaces in Houston, Texas, and Brampton, Ontario, both of which provide premier event experiences and hospitality packages. Click here if you’re interested in learning more about being featured on the BOX FEST series.

Thanjhae Teasley stopped Selassie Bey in the eighth and final round of their welterweight bout of undefeated fighters at the Owls Nest in Houstin, Texas.

In round two, Bey dropped Teasley with a hard right hand in the corner.

In round six, a right hand from Teasley put Bey on the canvas. Teasley continued to pressure and break down Bey. In round-eight, Teasley landed another hard right that pet Bey down again. Bey got to his feet but was in no condition to continue and the fight was over at 1:26.

Teasley, 146 1/4 lbs of Allentown, PA is 11-0 with five knockouts. Bey, 146 1/2 lbs of Louisville, KY is 8-1.

Ephraim Bui remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous decision over Yusniel Abrahante in a super flyweight fight.

In the final round, Abrahante was credited with a knockdown after Bui ate a left hand and went down.

Bui, 114 3/4 lbs of Sugarland, TX won by scores of 79-73 twice and 77-74 and is now 10-0. Abrahante, 114 3/4 lbs of Louisville, KY via Cuba is now 6-2.

Elijah Williams scored a six-round majority decision over Najeem Johns in a junior welterweight bout.

In round two, Johns was cut over the right eye and Williams was cut on the right eye as well from an accidental headbutt.

Williams, 141 1/4 lbs of Newbergh, NY won by scores of 59-55, 58-56 and 57-57 and is now 9-1. Johns, 136 3/4 lbs of Darby, PA is 5-1.

Dion Jones won a six-round split-decision over Randy Zazueta Medina in a fight between undefeated junior welterweights.

Jones took two cards 59-55 and 58-56. Medina won a card 58-57.

Jones, 138 3/4 lbs of Las Vegas is now 7-0. Medina, 139 1/4 lbs of Las Vegas is 4-1.

Williams and Jones will meet in the finals of a four-man tournament,

Lyndon Patricio made a successful pro debut with a first-round stoppage over Corian Hawkins-Powell in a four-round bantamweight bout.

In round one, Patricio dropped Hawkins with a left to the body. Patricio continued to pound the body until a barrage of punches put him down for a second time. Patricio continued the assault until the bout was stopped at 2:34.

Patricio of Waianae, HI is 1-0 with one knockout. Hawkins-Powell, 114 3/4 lbs of Mansfield, TX is 0-2.

In a battle of pro debuting Texas based welterweights, Santana Draper stopper Tyler Murray in the opening round of their four-round bout.

In round one, Draper dropped Murray with a left to the body. Draper dropped Murray again in the round with a hard left to the body. Drpaer ended thing as he dropped Murray for a third and final with a left to the head at 2:48.

Draper, 142 1/4 lbs of Fresno, TX is 1-0 with one knockout. Murray, 143 lbs of Lewisville, TX is 0-1.

Dayan Depestre remained undefeated with a four-round majority decision over Trevon Smith in a super middleweight bout.

Depestre, 164 1/2 lbs of Miami via Cuba won by scores of 40-36, 39-37 and 38-38 and is now 4-0-1. Smith, 164 3/4 lbs of Houston is 2-3.