UNIONDALE, NY — Daniel “The Miracle Man” Jacobs (33-2, 29KO) earned a unanimous decision victory over Luis Arias (18-1, 9KO) in a twelve round middleweight contest at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The bout headlined the first ever fight card promoted on US soil by Britain’s lead promoter, Eddie Hearn, and his company’s newly created American branch, Matchroom Boxing USA. The fight also marked the first of a three fight HBO deal that Matchroom and Jacobs signed earlier this year.
The Brooklyn-born Jacobs started fast, landing a big right hand behind Arias’ head that buzzed his 27 year old counterpart. Jacobs followed up quickly, perhaps envisioning a Peter Quillin repeat, and quickly bombarded “Cuba” with lefts and rights. Jacobs was unable to replicate his first round magic, however, and Arias survive the barrage.
The 30 year old Jacobs controlled to early-middle rounds, out-boxing Arias, dishing out the more punishing blows, while slipping most of Arias’ return-fire. Jacobs kept his Milwaukee-born foe under pressure for most of the contest, forcing him to fight off his back foot, having to slip punches before he could throw any of his own.
The middle rounds saw quality boxing, with Jacobs consistently besting Arias, who is trained by John David Jackson, during their exchanges. But even when Arias had success, like he did in the sixth when he landed a nice clean one-two, Jacobs responded with his own combinations, and closed the round with a hellacious flurry that may have stolen the round on some judge’s cards.
In the tenth, a Jacobs left hand hurt Arias, who absorbed a few more blows before initiating a clinch. The 30 year old Jacobs continued to press the action for the rest of the tenth and for the two subsequent rounds, seemingly making a conscious effort to try and stop Arias. In the eleventh, a Jacobs punch knocked Arias off-balance to the point where his glove scraped the mat and a knockdown was scored. A stoppage, however, wasn’t meant to be, and the durable Arias fought till the final bell.
All three judges scored the contest in favor of Jacobs. Judge Julie Lederman scored it a shutout, 120-107, Steve Weisfeld had it 119-108, and Larry Hazzard, Jr., 118-109.
The victory marked another chapter written in the Danny Jacobs storybook. From his 2010 defeat via 5th round KO at the hands of Dmitry Pirog, to his battle with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, “The Miracle Man” has risen off the mat in both life and the ring. With two more dates guaranteed on HBO, Jacobs is now in position to take on some of the middleweight power players. Dates with David Lemieux, Canelo Alvarez, and GGG are all reasonable possibilities in 2018.
Huge Win For “Big Baby” — Miller Stops Wach In 8
In a battle of heavyweight contenders, Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (20-0-1, 17KO) wore down former world title challenger Mariusz Wach (33-3, 17KO), en route to a ninth round TKO victory. It was an impressive effort from the 6’4” Miller, who cut sixteen pounds off his previous fight weight, slimming down to a trim 283lbs.
Throughout the fight, the ex-kickboxer-turned-boxer Miller pressed forward, repeatedly forcing his 6’7” counterpart to choose between expending energy fending him off or finding himself on the receiving end of “Big Baby” barrages. By the third round, the constant pressure was beginning to get to the Polish native, Wach, who was visibly tiring and breathing through his mouth.
Sometime during the early rounds, perhaps during the fifth round, Wach seemingly suffered a left hand injury. He complained of pain to his corner and had a brief conversation with the ringside physician before continuing on.
In the seventh, Miller began to hurt Wach, reigning down a flurry of punches which forced Wach to retreat, while Miller pursued. The giant Pole was able to weather the seventh round storm and live to see another round.
But he wouldn’t live to make it out of the eight. About a minute into the round, the ringside physician stepped up onto the apron and advised referee David Fields to call a stop to the bout, which he did at the 1:02 mark of round eight.
The fight marked only the second time in Wach’s thirty-six fight career he was stopped. The other time coming courtesy of Alexander Povetkin.
Seldin Hammers Ortiz, Stops Him In Three
Cletus “The Hebrew Hammer” Seldin (21-0, 17KO) dazzled in his HBO debut, bloodying and battering Roberto Ortiz (35-2-2, 26KO) over the course of two-plus rounds. The 31 year old Seldin delivered loaded right after loaded right to his Mexican counterpart, who twice hit the mat in the bout’s opening round. Seldin, who riled up his hometown crowd early by entering the ring to Hulk Hogan’s theme song and sporting an American flag bandana, continued to throw fully-cocked rights in the second round and opened a nasty gash over Ortiz’s left eye that immediately started streaming blood. The veteran Mexican had no answer for the Seldon right hand, and continued to eat shots to the left side of the face. Eventually, after an accidental clash, referee Shada Murdaugh called timeout so a ringside physician could inspect Ortiz’s cut. The doctor ultimately advised Murdaugh to call a halt to the contest. The official time of the stoppage was 2:43 of the third round.
For Seldin, this marked only the sixth time he has fought outside of Huntington, NY’s Paramount Theater in his twenty-one fight career. For Ortiz, this was just his second fight on US soil, and his second loss. His other loss came at the hands of Lucas Matthysse in 2014.
Benn Destroys Sanudo In US Debut
Britain’s Conor “The Destroyer” Benn (10-0, 8KO) made quite the introduction to US boxing fans, scoring a vicious second round KO over Mexican Brandon Sanudo (7-7, 4 KO), in a welterweight contest originally slated for six. Benn, the son of former two-division world champion, Nigel Benn, became the first of Matchroom Sport’s British boxers to fight on a Matchroom Sport promotional card on American soil. Benn controlled the fight’s first round, operating in a composed manner, working well behind his jab. In the second, the 21 year old Brit picked up his offense, and moved forward with fury. With Sanudo backing up toward the ropes, Benn landed a thudding left to the liver that dropped Sanudo to all fours. With referee Tony Chiarantano administering a ten count over him, Sanudo spit out his mouthpiece, grimaced, and remained on all fours until the contest was waved off. The official time of the knockout came at the 1-minute mark of round two.
Hernandez Wins Hard Fought Decision Over Dezurn
Jesse Angel Hernandez (10-1, 7KO) handed Glenn Dezurn (9-1-1, 6 KO) his first career loss when he scored a unanimous decision victory in an eight round bantamweight contest. Hernandez used his height and reach advantage to keep the smaller Dezurn at bay, punishing him each time he tried to get inside his reach. Despite his physical disadvantage, Dezurn, a 30 year old Baltimore native, turned in a spirited effort against Hernandez, who was a clear step up in competition for Dezurn. For the Texas southpaw, Hernandez, 2017 continues to be a career-defining year, having seen him hand his previous two opponents their first career losses. In August, Hernandez stopped the formerly unbeaten Vladimir Tikhonov. Tonight, judges scorecards of 79-73, 78-74, and 77-75 for Hernandez resulted in Dezurn tasting defeat for the first time, and Hernandez cementing his contender status.
Rainone and Sosa Battle To Draw
Long Island native Tommy “Razor” Rainone and Dominican-born New Jerseyan George Sosa (16-10, 15KO) battled their way to a majority draw in a six round welterweight contest. It was a hard-fought, gutsy affair, that mostly saw Sosa the aggressor and the southpaw, Rainone, fighting off his back foot. At times, both boxers landed clean shots, though the 37-year old Rainone’s effective punches were fewer and farther between than those of his counterpart. At the end of six, there was little doubt Rainone’s face was worse for the wear, courtesy of Sosa’s two gloved fists. At the end of six, the judges were split, however. Tony Paolillo’s 59-55 scorecard for Sosa was overruled by John McKaie and Jim Pierce’s scores of a 57-57 draw. 15rounds.com scored the bout 59-55 for Sosa.
The draw was the first of Sosa’s career and adds more character to an already interesting record. Each of Sosa’s fifteen victories have come via stoppage and taken place in the Dominican Republic. On US soil, however, he hasn’t had much luck, winning only one time in ten attempts. The fight was a milestone for Rainone, as well. The “Razor” crossed over the 200 round mark in his career and now has 202 professional rounds under his belt.
Best Bet — Lucky Stays Unbeaten
Long Island native Tyrone James (6-0, 3KO) improved on his perfect record with a six round unanimous decision victory over “The Hudson Valley Kid”, Daniel Sostre (13-15-1, 5 KO). It was all James from opening to closing bell, as the hometown hero parlayed a minor height and reach advantage with superior athletic ability to dominate the contest for three minutes per round, for six rounds. Midway through the third James dropped his 33 year old counterpart courtesy of a right hand. Sostre, who has now lost 12 of his last 14 contests, was able to get off the mat and battle on till the final bell. In the end, all three judges scored widely for James, 60-53.
Lightning Strikes — Niyazov Stops Mauras In Five
Kazakh-born Staten Islander, Dimash “Lightning” Niyazov (13-0-3, 6 KO), disposed of hard-nosed Massachusetts native, Agustine Mauras (6-4-3, 3 KO), inside five rounds in a junior welterweight contest slated for six. The historic bout kicked-off the first US fight card promoted by Britain’s lead boxing promoter, Eddie Hearn, and his company’s new American branch, Matchroom Boxing USA. Niyazov dominated the first four rounds of the scrap, before cranking up the heat in the fifth, dropping Mauras with two right hands before landing a clean left on the button, prompting referee Tony Chiarantano to stop the action at the 2:55 mark of the fifth round.
