Saturday, November 6, 2010
SHOWTIME FEATURES JUAN MA & RAFAEL MARQUEZ WAR!
Las Vegas, NV – Juan Manuel Lopez, (125.5 lbs), Caguas, Puerto Rico TKO 8 Rafael Marquez, (125.5), Mexico City, Mexico (WBO 126 lb title) In what has to be the front runner for fight of the year, Lopez (30-0, 27 KOs) displayed both heart and power in defeating the always exciting former two division world champion Marquez (39-6, 35 KOs). It was a give and take war from the opening round as both fighters landed bombs at will. Lopez gained the upper hand as he sent Marquez staggering across the ring with a left in the third, but Marquez took back control as he rocked Lopez in round four. Lopez was also deducted a point for a rabbit punch in the same round. It was all Lopez from round six on, although Marquez was still aggressive. Lopez really poured it on Marquez in round eight, causing Marquez to not come out for round nine. Marquez claimed he had a previously injured right shoulder.
GREEN KO’D BY JOHNSON IN “SUPER SIX”
Glen Johnson, (167), Miami, FL KO 8 Allan Green, (168), Tulsa, OK. Late replacement Johnson (51-14-2, 35 KOs) earns a spot in the semi-finals of SHOWTIME’s super middleweight tournament with a shocking eighth round KO of Green (29-3, 20 KOs). Johnson knocked Green down for the count after hurting him in rounds three and six, Green was up at the count of nine but still unsteady. Although Green complained the punch was a blow to the back of his head, he was in no condition to continue. Time was 0:36. The ageless Johnson gets three points for the KO win.
HBO CARD TOPPED BY “GHOST” & JUDAH WINS
Newark, NJ – Zab Judah, (139), Brooklyn, NY SD 12 Lucas Matthyese, (140), Buenos Aires, Argentina. Judah (40-6, 27 KOs) earns a hard fought win over the now once beaten power puncher Matthysse (27-1, 25 KOs). For the first nine rounds, Judah concentrated on head shots while Matthysse focused on the body. In the tenth round Matthysse’s power finally surfaced when he dropped Judah with a hard head shot. The eleventh and twelfth saw Judah absorb vicious shots from Matthysse but it was too late as Judah was ahead 114-113 and 115-112 on two cards while the third was 114-113 for Matthysse.
“GHOST” NEARLY ROUTS 2004 OLYMPIC HOPE
Robert Guerrero, (133), Gilroy, CA UD 10 Vicente Escobedo, (134), Woodland, Ca. The two division ex-world champion Guerrero (28-1-1, 18 KOs) out boxed and out slugged former Olympian Escobedo (22-3, 14 KOs). Guerrero, after dropping Escobedo in rounds three and six, won easily by scores of 100-88, 98-90, and 96-92. Other than the knockdowns it was a steadily paced fight.
Friday, November 5, 2010
SHOWTIME CARD HAD MCGIRT GETTING STOPPED!
Fargo, ND – Edwin Rodriguez, (166), Worcester, MA TKO 9 James McGirt Jr., (167.8), Brentwood, NY Rodriguez (17-0, 13 KOs) scores a surprisingly easy ninth round stoppage of a timid McGirt Jr. (22-3-1, 11 KOs). Rodriguez forced the action the entire fight, forcing McGirt Jr. to stay on defense while trying to avoid Rodriguez’ non stop punching. Referee Mark Nelson finally waved it off at 1:57. McGirt Jr. was given one more round by his father to show some offense between the eighth and ninth.
AARON PRYOR JR. VS. HOWARD DAVIS’ KID
Aaron Pryor Jr., (167.25), Cincinnati, OH UD 8 Dyah Davis, (166.8), Coconut Creek, FL The sons of 80s boxing legends Aaron Pryor and Howard Davis Jr. clashed in a fast paced bout, which saw Pryor Jr. (15-2, 11 KOs) hurt his opponent in the sixth on his way to an easy unanimous decision over Davis (18-2, 9 KOs). Scores were 79-73 twice 78-74.
Marcus Johnson, (172 lbs), St. Louis, MO TKO 3 Kevin Engel, (171.2 lbs), Houston, TX. Johnson (20-0, 15 KOs) looked impressive against a game but weak chinned Engel (18-4, 15 KOs). Johnson dominated Engel throughout, especially in the third where Engel was knocked down and received a standing eight count. At 3:00 of the third round the referee halted the mismatch, although it should have been sooner.
Edwin “Ace” Ayala