FUTURE OF BOXING SHINES AGAINST JOURNEYMAN
Temecula,CA– Unbeaten 2004 Olympic gold medalist Andre “SOG” Ward used superior mobility, skills, and poise in scoring a third round TKO victory over an outclassed Shelby Pudwill (22-4-1, 9 KOs) at the Pechanga Resort and Casino as part of a Saturday night broadcast of Showbox on the Showtime network. Ward connected with a variety of punches, and knocked his foe down in round three with a body shot. When Pudwill arose he had a cut on his eye. After examining the cut, the Doctor allowed the fight continue to the challengers detriment as Ward punished him for the remaining seconds, prompting the referee to stop the one sided affair. Ward improves to 20-0 with the thirteenth stoppage victory of his career. Post fight, Ward put it like this. “To win is not enough for me, I wanted to put on a spectacular performance.”
KESSLER HANDLES HIS FODDER TOO!
Denmark’s Mikkel Kessler (42-1, 32 KOs) won impressively on a taped feed with a TKO 4, this in defense of his WBA super middleweight (168 lbs) crown. His opponent, Venezuela’s Gusmyr Perdomo (16-3, 11 KOs) was game, but outgunned as Kessler had a significant power advantage throughout. The Dane scored a questionable knockdown at the end of round three and staggered his foe in round four prompting the referee to halt the rout. Kessler fulfills his obligation and can now focus on his anticipated match and first fight of the Super Six World Boxing Tournament against Andre “SOG” Ward that will be taking place in Oakland, CA in November.
TONEY PUSHES AWAY THE CHEESE BURGERS
Former three-division world champion James “Lights Out” Toney (72-6-3, 44 KOs) scored an easy victory over Matt Greer (12-6, 11 KOs) stopping him at 2:33 of the second round. Greer who ate a serious of body shots, hooks and right hands from Toney who weighed 217.5 pounds, weathered the storm and even appeared to have stunned James at the end of the first round.
Other than that, Greer got the worst of it overall and took a beating in the opener. Round two was much of the same as the slicker and craftier Toney picked him apart dropping him twice in the round. An invigorated in shape Toney just might be able to make another run towards a heavyweight title shot.
SUPER BANTAM HAD GOOD OUTING
122 lb. prospect Rico Ramos (12-0, 8 KOs) put on a strong performance in a one sided victory over game but limited Victor Martinez (15-6, 11 KO). Martinez was hurt and down in round one from a body shot. Ramos took his time and won round two, but poured on the pressure and put his opponent down again in round three with a solid right hand. Martinez appeared unable to continue and the referee stopped the bout. Ramos looks life a solid prospect!
BATTLE OF UNBEATEN JR. WELTERS
In a spirited match up between up and coming 140 lb. fighters, Mike Dallas Jr. (10-0-1, 2 KOs) convincingly won a majority of the rounds in a scheduled six against Vincent Arroyo (9-1, 6 KOs). Arroyo hurt Dallas Jr at the end of round six, but ran out of time and Dallas dominated on the scorecards winning a well deserved unanimous decision.
In a competitive bout on paper as well as in the ring, 154 lber. Francisco Santana (11-1, 5 KOs) and Tony Hirsch (9-3-1,5 KOs) got in a punch trading match for six rounds. Santana was the aggressor throughout as Hirsch was content to try to counter punch. Both guys however were game and willing to exchange punches. Hirsch appeared to land the cleaner shots, but the rugged Santana was game and landed his share of telling blows in six close rounds. Santana won a somewhat questionable split decision with scores of 60-54 and 58-56. The other jurist had Hirsh on top 58-56.
Kevin Perry