BROOKLYN, NY — Polish-born Brooklyn heavyweight Adam “Babyface” Kownacki upped his perfect record to 20-0, 15KO, earning a hard-fought twelve round unanimous decision against former three-time world title challenger Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola (38-6-1, 33KO) in the main event of a FOX broadcast from the Barclays Center.  Judges scores were 118-110 and 117-111 for Kownacki.  

 

The fight was fought at a frantic pace for two big men who tipped the scales at a combined 510¼ pounds (Kownacki, 266¼ & Arreola 244).  Combined, the two sluggers threw 2,172 punches, landing 667 of them, both CompuBox records for the heavyweight division.   

 

Kownacki, 30, wasted no time forcing the action, as he came off his stool firing in the bout’s opening round firing loaded shots that immediately had Arreola retreating. The 6’3” Pole continued to stalk Arreola, who tried to jab his way out of harm’s way.  Once that task proved too difficult, Arreola made adjustments, and in the ensuing rounds the 38 year-old Californian began to smother Kownacki, continuously leaning on him and forcing the fight in-close. 

 

From round two through twelve, the fight would be fought in-tight, which certainly wore on each fighter as they seemingly gassed midway through each round.

 

Kownacki seemingly landed at will and was more creative with his punches than Arreola, who possibly broke his right hand in the third round.  The Pole, who is trained by Keith Trimble, varied his offense, threw uppercuts, short left hooks, and right crosses around Arreola’s guard.

 

Arreola’s successes came courtesy of his straight right, which he consistently landed, but perhaps without his usual power.    

 

Credit Arreola, who after fading in the late-middle rounds, dug deep and fought well in the championship rounds, winning both of them on judge Lou Moret’s scorecard, as well as 15Rounds.com’s.  15Rounds scored the fight 115-113, Kownacki.  

 

Tonight marked the seventh time in Kownacki’s last eight fights that he’s fought in front his red and white clad supporters (8,790 of them tonight) at the Barclays Center, which routinely turns into “Little Warsaw” on fight nights. 

 

Kownacki now adds Arreola’s name to a list along with Artur Szpilka and Gerald Washington as former title challengers he holds wins over.  Kownacki’s resume also sports a win over former IBF World Champion Charles Martin.

 

Arreola, in preparation for his fight versus Kownacki, parted ways with longtime trainer Henry Ramirez and linked up with legendary offense-first trainer Joe Goossen.  Ramirez, who still maintains a close relationship with Arreola, was still present in Arreola’s corner tonight.  

With the win, Kownacki takes another step forward in his quest to become the first Polish born heavyweight champion and positions him nicely to get a crack at WBC World Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder.  

 

“I thought it was a good close fight but I knew I pulled it out. I landed a lot of shots and that was enough to win,” Kownacki said afterward. 

 

“I tried to follow up when I had him hurt but I was throwing two punches instead of three or four,” he added.  “I just have to keep training hard, getting better and sharpening my skills. We’ll see what the future holds. Hopefully next year I’ll get the title shot.”

 

Post-fight, Arreola credited Kownacki’s ever-charging approach. 

 

“”Adam is relentless. He just keeps coming. I know I got him with some good punches and he got me with some good ones. I was more than ready to go all 12, but Adam came in and won the fight.”

 

On whether or not tonight was the last time we’ll see Arreola in the ring, he said, “Retirement is something I need to talk to my family and team about. I gave it my all this fight. I let it all hang out.”

 

In another stunning upset from the Barclays Center, Jean Pascal (37-6-1, 20KO) turned back the clock and sent “Sir” Marcus Browne (23-1, 16KO) to the canvas three times en route to an eight round technical decision victory (75-74×3) to capture Browne’s interim WBA World LIghtweight title. 

 

Things started according to plan for the former 2012 Olympian Browne, who in the early goings used his height and reach advantage to keep the bull-rushing Pascal at bay.  The first two rounds saw the Staten Island southpaw constantly popped his jab and punished the shorter Pascal each time the Quebecer leapt forward to land a charging blow.  

 

In the third Browne became more assertive and started to open up.  Midway through the round, a Browne left seemed to momentarily stun Pascal, who had his back against the ropes.  Browne then uncorked two violent right hooks, to the head and body that former champ somehow absorbed.

 

The momentum and complexion of the fight changed suddenly the following round, however, when both fighters landed simultaneous right hands,  Browne – a right hook, Pascall – a right cross. It was the former champion Pascal’s cross, though, that exploded upon impact and sent the previously-unbeaten Browne thudding to the mat.  Foggy and dazed, Browne beat referee Gary Rosato’s ten count, but then had to figure out how to survive the remaining 1:40 seconds of the round. He did so by clinching at every opportunity until he heard the ding of the bell. 

 

Between rounds four and five, Browne cleared the cobwebs and came out of his corner on steady legs, making a continuous and conscious effort to score to his 36 year-old counterpart’s body.  

 

Similar to the fifth, the sixth likely belonged to Browne, who again kept digging shots to Pascal’s body.  

 

The Canadian roared back in the seventh, though, landing another explosive right cross that sent Browne violently to the mat for the second time.  A wobbly Browne beat Rosato’s ensuing ten count, but was sent back to the canvas shortly after when Pascal clipped him with a short right as the round neared end.

 

Midway through an eighth round that was all-Pascal, the two clashed heads that resulted in a nasty gash over Browne’s left eye.  Rosato called a stop to the action and called for ringside physician Dr. Nitin Sethi to exam the cut. Upon doing so, he advised Rosato to halt the contest, which he did at the 1:49 mark of the round.  

 

At the end of seven-plus, all three judges scored the fight 75-74 for Pascal.  Browne won all rounds where he remained on his feet.  

“Boxing is boxing,” Pascal said afterward.  “We clashed heads, but at the end of the day, I was winning the round. I dropped him three times. It was a close fight, but I believe I was winning.

 

It was a retro performance from Pascal, who many believed his best days were in the rearview.  Late last year Pascal came up short against current WBA World Light Heavyweight Champion Dmitry Bivol.

 

Tonight was the first title defense for Browne since winning his title in January when he outpointed a a crimson-faced Badou Jack.  

Omotoso Stops Stevens Inside 3 In Jr. Middleweight Firefight

 In the first of three fights broadcast live on FOX, Nigerian junior middleweight Wale “Lucky Boy” Omotoso (28-4, 22KO) scored three knockdowns en route to a third round TKO against former world title challenger Curtis “Cerebral Assassin” Stevens (30-7, 22KO) in a contest originally slated for ten.  

 

It was a brief, albeit exciting firefight between the two 34 year-old sluggers, with both fighters willing to eat a shot to land one.  But it was Omotoso’s punch resistance — or better yet, Stevens’ lack thereof — that made the difference in the ring.  

 

Omotoso scored his first knockdown — of the flash variety — midway through the first round courtesy of a right hand that landed behind Stevens’ left ear.  

 

The following round, Omotoso again sent Stevens to the canvas, courtesy of a stiff jab that came at the end of an exchange. 

 

In the third round, Stevens tried to turn the tide and came off his stool and charged toward Omotoso, letting his hands fly.  The Brooklyn-native backed Omotoso into a neutral corner and started peppering him short hooks and crosses. Omotoso responded quickly though, firing off his own hooks and crosses thwart Stevens’ offensive surge.  

 

As the two circled the ring and neared the opposite neutral corner, Omotoso uncorked a textbook one-two that caught Stevens on the chin, sending him back to the mat.  A blurry-eyed Stevens beat referee Johnny Callas’ ten count, but failed to convince him he was able to continue.

 

The result marked the fourth time Stevens has been stopped inside the distance.  Perhaps most memorable was his vicious KO loss against David Lemeiux in 2017.  

 

“I was just letting my hands go. On the second knockdown my confidence grew,” Omotoso said. “I was glad to get the victory by knockout.

 

“I didn’t expect it to go exactly like that. I was just listening to my coach,” he continued.  “The second knockdown was actually with my jab. 

 

Stevens also spoke after the fight.  “He hit me with an overhand right in the first round that knocked my equilibrium,” he said. “But that didn’t really affect me too much. I wasn’t stepping enough into my punches, i was reaching. I got caught when I was reaching.” 

Brian Howard Viciously KOs Carlos Negron In One 

Atlanta heavyweight Brian Howard (15-3, 12KO) needed just 66 seconds to bulldoze past 6’6” Puerto Rican Carlos Negron (20-3, 16KO) and score the biggest win of his career.  

A Howard right hurt Negron about thirty seconds into the bout, and from that moment on, it was bombs away for the 39 year-old veteran.  Howard was relentless, offering Negron no relief, forcing him into perpetual retreat.  

After a few more Howard punches landed through Negron’s shoddy guard, referee Shada Murdaugh took a close look, seemingly ready to stop the fight.  The very next Howard right took that decision out of Murdaugh’s hands, however, as it landed flush on the side of Negron’s head, sending the big Puerto Rican crashing hard to the mat and almost out of the ring.  The fight was immediately waved off at the 1:06 mark of the first round. 

It was the second straight fight Negron was KO’d.  He suffered the same fight in December courtesy of two-time world title challenger Dominic Brazeale in this same arena in December.  

Jones TKOs Sosa, Hands Him First Taste of Defeat 

In a shocking upset, welterweight Brian “Sweet” Jones (15-10, 9KO) scored a seventh round TKO over previously unbeaten Julian Sosa (13-1-1, 5KO).  

 

Sosa looked to be in control through the first three-plus rounds of the fight, but a Jones three-punch combo midway through the fourth flipped the script.  The aforementioned combo sent Sosa crashing to the mat, dazed and confused. The 23 year-old Brooklynite beat referee Earl Brown’s ten count and was able to hang on to see the next round.  

 

In the fifth, Jones stepped on the gas and immediately walked a still-fuzzy Sosa into a neutral counter where he began to let his hands go.  Sosa bent forward and put a glove to the mat to catch his balance, resulting in a second knockdown. 

 

The fight ended shortly thereafter, at the 2:28 mark of the 5th, when Brown jumped between fighters to stop any more of Jones’ unobstructed punches from reaching Sosa’s head.  

It should be noted that Sosa’s trainer and father Aureliano Sosa was not present in his son’s corner tonight.  Over the past few years, Aureliano Sosa has amassed a skilled stable of blue-chip New York prospects including Richardson Hitchins and Chris Colbert.  For tonight’s fight, however, with the elder Sosa absent, it was the undefeated 22 year-old lightweight, Colbert, operating as the corner’s chief second.

The result marked the first time the 32 year-old Jones has won at the Barclays Center in three tries.  

 

Marsellus Wilder Redeems Himself In Brooklyn, UDs Nicoy Clarke

Cruiserweight Marsellus Wilder (5-1, 2KO), the younger brother of WBC World Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder, slugged his way past Jamaican Nicoy Clarke (2-4) en route to a four round unanimous decision victory (40-36×2, 39-37).

Various times throughout the fight, the 30 year-old Wilder had Clarke in trouble, but was never able to close the show.  The hard-nosed Clarke weathered all storms and had brief moments of success, but not enough to rack up rounds.

Tonight marked the first time Wilder fought at the Barclays Center since being KO’d by journeyman William Deets late in the fourth round of a four round fight he was comfortably winning.  That KO remains his only loss.

Helen Joseph Cruises To 6-Round Shutout Over Edina Kiss

Connecticut’s Helen “Iron Lady” Joseph upped her record to 16-3-2, 10KO, earning a six round unanimous decision (60-53×3) against Hungary’s Edina “DNA” Kiss (15-11, 9KO) in a super bantamweight affair.

It was all Joseph from bell to bell.  The 30 year-old Nigerian forced the action, pressed forward, and had Kiss uncomfortably fighting off her back foot round after round.

Joseph scored a knockdown in the second courtesy of a looping right that forced Kiss down to a knee.

The 29 year-old Kiss’ remains winless on American soil, having now dropped all eight of her US contests.

Unbeaten Kestna Davis Scores 4-Round UD Over Winless Jaime Meza 

New Jersey’s Kestna “Hardball” Davis (4-0) dusted off two years of ring rust to score a four round unanimous decision (40-36×3) over fellow junior middleweight Jaime Meza (0-3).

The 24 year-old Jamaican-born southpaw, Davis, used his height and reach advantage to score the more impactful punches during their twelve minute affair.

Davis’ three prior pro fights all came in 2017.

Cobia Breedy Remains Unbeaten, Scores 10-Round UD Over Ryan Lee Allen 

In the night’s second contest, Maryland featherweight Cobia “Soldier” Breedy (14-0, 4KO) out-landed Michigan’s Ryan Lee Allen (9-4-1, 4KO) en route to a ten round unanimous decision (99-91×2, 97-93).

It wasn’t a buttoned-up performance by Breedy, as the wide scorecards might suggest. Allen was able to touch Breedy all fight, but was unable to land anything of significance.

Make no mistake though, it was Breedy who was better on the night. The 27 year-old Barbados-born boxer kept punches coming round after round and continually bested his counterpart.

Arnold Gonzalez Opens Night With 4 Round UD Over De Los Santos

In his hometown debut, welterweight Arnold Gonzalez ran his record to a perfect 2-0, decisioning Texan Jeremiah De Los Santos (0-4) in a four round contest that opened an eleven bout card from the Barclays Center. Scores were 40-36 across the board.

Although born and bred in NYC, the former Manny Pacquiao sparring partner, Gonzalez, hones his craft on the west coast, fighting under the watchful eye of the Wild Card Boxing Club’s Julian Chua.

The marathon fight night concludes with a FOX triple header beginning at 8EST, anchored by a battle of big men when heavyweight contenders Adam Kownacki and Chris Arreola meet in a contest that’s scheduled for — but probably won’t go — twelve rounds.

NEW YORK CITY, NY — In the main event of a night of boxing broadcast on DAZN from Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater, Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade took his scalpel and chiseled away at Artur “Wolverine” Akavov for eleven-plus rounds en route to a 12th round TKO victory, retaining his WBO world middleweight title in the process.

It was Andrade’s first defense of his WBO strap since winning it convincingly against Walter Kautondokwa in October. That contest was originally supposed to pit Andrade against Billy Joe Saunders, who was replaced by Kautondokwa after failing a drug test.

It wasn’t a particularly hard night at the office for the 30 year-old Rhode Island native. Andrade set the distance early, kept his fellow southpaw opponent at bay, all the while methodically peppering in shots clean shots round after round.

The former ‘08 US Olympian, Andrade, shifted into cruise control in the early goings and never changed gears. Akavov had no answer as to how to get inside Andrade’s reach or mount any significant offensive attack.

Eventually, Andrade broke through in the 9th round when a left hand opened a nasty cut over Akavov’s right eye that would trouble him for the remainder of the fight.

After sustaining continuous damage in the ensuing rounds, referee Arthur Mercante, Jr. decided enough was enough and stopped the contest at the 2:36 mark of round 12. Although bloody and beaten, the stoppage seemed unnecessary as only :24 seconds remained and Akavov was not in any clear danger.

The result snapped a three fight win streak for the Russian, Akavov, and also marked the second time the 33 year-old has come up short in a world title fight. He also dropped a unanimous decision to Billy Joe Saunders for the very same WBO title in 2016. His only other professional defeat also came via the cards against Oleg Lissev in 2012.

Andrade remains well positioned to score a bigger fight for a bigger payday later in 2019. Fellow middleweight title holders and DAZN fighters, Canelo Alvarez (WBC) and Daniel Jacobs (IBF), will meet in a monster unification clash set for May 4 in Las Vegas.

Cano Stuns Linares, Stops Him In 1!

Veteran Mexican fighter Pablo Cesar Cano (32-7-1, 22KO) scored the biggest win of his career and shocked the boxing world in the process, flooring former three-division world champion Jorge Linares (45-5, 28KO) three times in the opening round of a scheduled twelve en route to a first round TKO victory.

About :30 seconds into the contest, the 29 year-old Cano landed an overhand right that exploded above Linares’ left ear and sent the flashy Venezuelan thudding to the mat. Cano kept the heat on, and didn’t allow Linares to ever fully recover. Another Cano right sent Linares to the canvas again, and shortly after, Cano connected with a left hook that dropped his 33 year-old counterpart for the final time. Linares beat that ensuing ten count, but a one last Cano flurry put Linares on unsteady legs, and referee Ricky Gonzalez stepped between the two fighters to stop the contest at the 2:48 mark of round one.

The result now becomes the signature win that has seemingly eluded Cano for his entire career. Prior to tonight, each time Cano has stepped up in competition, he has come up short. Fighters who have had their hands raised against Cano include former world champions Paulie Malignaggi, Shane Mosley, and Erik Morales.

This was the second fight back for Linares since losing via stoppage to Visiliy Lomachenko in the very same venue last may. Linares bounced back from that loss with a KO win over Abner Cotto in September.

Each of Linares’ five career losses have come via stoppage.

With the knockout, Cano retained his WBC International Silver Super Lightweight Title, a belt he won against the previously unbeaten Ruslan Madiev in September.

This fight was only Linares’ second fight at 140 lbs., and first against a true junior welterweight. The classy vet, who debuted professionally in 2002, now needs to consider how to move forward and give thought as to which division suits him best.

He’s Got The Power: TJ Doherty Retains Title, Stops Takahashi in 11

TJ “The Power” Doheny (21-0, 15KO) made his first successful defense of his IBF world super bantamweight belt, stopping Japan’s Ryohei Takahashi (16-4-1, 6KO) in the 11th round.

The Irish-born Australian champion set the tone early, finding his target with crisp jabs and pistoning lefts from his southpaw stance.

About a minute into the second round, the two combatants clashed heads which produced almost identical cuts over the bridge of their noses, between the eyes.

The 32 year-old champion turned up the heat in the third and administered three lefts in rapid succession that sent an already off-balance Takahashi to the mat.

Doheny, who claimed his strap by decisioning then-champion Ryosuka Iwasa in Tokyo in August, seemed to get off first in every exchange and never let Takahashi get comfortable. Eventually, punches began to accumulate and take their toll on the challenger.

As the rounds progress, Takahashi’s offensive bursts proved less and less effective, while Doheny’s shots were still finding their home.

After landing a clean combination in the 11th round, referee Michael Ortega stepped in at the 2:18 mark and called a halt to the contest.

Doheny’s win sets up a potential bantamweight unification clash between Doheny and fellow Matchroom Sports client and WBA champion, Danny Roman (26-2-1, 10KO), who joined Doheny in the ring after the bout.

Chris Algieri Edges Daniel Gonzalez in Ten Round Clash

Chris Algieri (23-3, 8KO) scored a controversially wide unanimous decision victory against fellow New Yorker, Daniel “El Gallo” Gonzalez (17-2-1, 7KO) in a closely contested ten round junior welterweight contest.

The 34 year-old Algieri got out to a fast start, making a conscious commitment to hammer away at Gonzalez’s body. Theoretically, that should have paid dividends as the fight bore on, however, Gonzalez seemed seemed to gain momentum round after round.

By the middle rounds, it seemed that the Woodhaven, Queens native, Gonzalez, was fighting the fight he mapped out in camp. He was applying pressure, forcing Algieri to constantly be on the move, and landing shots in the process. To his credit, Huntington’s Algieri, countered slickly, and for the most part avoided eating any big blows. In the seventh round a clash of heads late produced a nasty welt and cut under Algieri’s left eye.

At the end of ten the judges scorecards of 98-92, 97-93, and 96-94 for Algieri were met with boos upon reading.

Tonight marked Algieri’s second fight back in the ring since taking time off after getting TKO’d by Errol Spence, Jr. in 2016. The former Manny Pacquiao foe decisioned Angel Hernandez in November.

Gonzalez only other career defeat came via TKO courtesy of Danny O’Connor in 2017.

Put Her In The Books! Serrano Captures Title In 7th Weight Division

Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (36-1-1, 27KO) once again made history, needing just :35 seconds to defeat Eva Voraberger (24-6, 11KO) to capture the WBO world female super flyweight championship in her record breaking seventh weight division.

Serrano was simply in another league, throwing punches fast and furious from the onset, overwhelming Voraberger. Serrano landed a beautiful combination that culminated with a vicious left that landed right under Voraberger’s rib cage, forcing her down to a knee where she was counted out by referee Sparkle Lee.

Serrano last fought in September when she won the WBO world female super lightweight title against Yamila Esther Reynosa in Brooklyn. That fight took place at 140 lbs. In an unprecedented move, Serrano cut 25 lbs. and dropped six weight divisions for tonight’s fight where she went on to earn her seventh weight world title, this time in the 115 lb. division.

Serrano’s lone blemish remains a 2012 unanimous decision loss against Frida Walberg in 2012 in Sweden.

Tonight’s win makes it 21 straight for Serrano. The fight also marks the first of a three-fight deal for Serrano with DAZN, which, if all goes according to plan, will culminate with a female super-fight pitting her against the WBO female lightweight champion and former Irish gold medal Olympian, Katie Taylor.

Reshat “The Albanian Bear” Roars Past Borteye

Reshat “The Albanian Bear” Mati (3-0, 2KO) manhandled Benjamin Borteye (4-4 4KO), knocking him down and finishing him off in the first of their scheduled 4 round welterweight scrap. The 20 year-old Albanian-American, Mati, overwhelmed his gun-shy and awkward counterpart from the bell. Mati, who like Sosa, also trains at Atlas Cops & Kids, dropped Borteye midway through the round with a huge right hand, and kept his foot on the gas, landing one final blow that knocked Borteye off balance and back into the ropes, which held him upright. The referee stopped the contest then and there, resulting in the first round TKO for Mati.

Julian Sosa Runs Record to 13-0-1, Stops Nzau in 4

Welterweight Julian Sosa (13-0-1, 5KO) made it two for two for Brooklyn boxers on the night by TKO’ing Congo’s Dieumerci Nzau (11-7, 8KO) in a contest originally slated for 6 rounds. Sosa, who fights out of Atlas Cops & Kids and is trained by Aureliano Sosa, used nifty footwork to create angles to cleanly land on Nzau. Lead lefts hooks were arguably Sosa’s best punches, but it was a right hand that dropped his 30 year-old counterpart in the third round. Nzau never answered the bell for round 4 and the contest was halted. The official time of the stoppage was 2:59 of round 4.

Solomon Bounces Back, Notches First Career Win

Brooklyn heavyweight Nkosi Solomon (1-1) rebounded nicely from suffering a shocking defeat in his pro debut by earning a unanimous decision victory against former two-time Georgia Golden Gloves champion, Rodriguez Cade (2-4, 2KO). The 24 year-old Solomon, who was once the #1 ranked US amateur in the super-heavyweight division, won definitively, but not pretty. Cade’s game plan was pretty simple — try to land a big shot and knock Solomon out. Not the worst idea considering Solomon was put down twice in his pro debut back in October. Tonight, however, Solmon’s defense was a bit more buttoned up and he was able to avoid his 29 year-old counterpart’s biggest punches.

Solomon’s best round was undoubtedly the third, in which he floord Cade with a huge overhand right. At the end of four, all judges scored it a shutout for Solomon, 40-35.

Golden Boy Prospect Hines Stays Perfect

Golden Boy Promotions welterweight prospect, Cornell Hines (4-0, 2KO) shook off some ring rust and survived a tough challenge from Farhad Fatulla (1-3) en route to a four round majority decision victory. The 25 year-old DC native, Hines, who fought only once last year struggled to get into any sort of offensive rhythm, but did enough to eke out a win on the judges’ cards. Scores were 38-38, and 39-37 twice for Hines. The match kicked off a night of fights broadcast live on DAZN from the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City that will culminate with Demetrius Andrade defending his WBO middleweight title against Artur Akavov.