SPIKE TV, HBO & SHOWTIME ALL HAD BOXING
Deontay Wilder
San Jose, CA– Al Haymon’s “Premier Boxing Champions” had a Friday night show on Spike TV in which Erislandy Lara retained a portion of the WBA 154 lb. title by pitching a 12 round shutout over journeyman Delvin Rodriquez. As is the case with Lara most of the time, he wins convincingly, but not on a level that anybody can call, “Entertaining.” The only real excitement came in round six when the Cuban national dropped Rodriquez in route to a 120-107 margin on all three cards.
CUBAN HAS RIGHT PITCH MAN IN LOUIS DE CUBAS SR.
Lara can boast a 22-2-2, 12 KOs record, but does mean anything at all when the fighter is dull and dreary? Lara called out everybody afterwards with the exception of Larry Holmes. With the WBA belt, Lara might make some real money, but in all likelihood it would be as an “opponent” with a title belt.
WALTERS FALLS SHORT ON WEIGHT, GETS NON-TITLE WIN
Nicolas Walters is no longer the WBA featherweight (titleholder) as he couldn’t make the 126 lb. limit and was stripped of his stile at the weigh in. Although he would go on to handily beat Miguel Mariaga (22-1, 14 KOs). The fact Walters couldn’t make weight while on the verge of becoming a significant player is not a positive sign.
QUESTIONS ARISE OVER WALTERS’ DEDICATION
Although he is talented, does great promos, making weight is a responsibility fighters seem to be forgetting about as 2015 has brought on a rash of guys “not making weight.” Walters walks away belt less without a WBA belt as he prevailed on the cards with 117-110, 118-109 & 119-109. Marriaga is now 20-1, 14 whacks. Walters remains unbeaten at 26-0, 21 KOs.
PUERTO RICAN SENSATION GETS WIN
Lightweight (135 lb.) Felix Verdejo is hoping to put Puerto Rican boxing back on the map as it’s been over a decade since Felix Trinidad retired and the land of Boricua has not embraced World middleweight (160) champ Miguel Cotto as much as Trinidad or Wilfredo Gomez. The one hope, Juan Manuel “Juan Ma” Lopez was thought to have the goods, but he flopped and when last seen was groggy and looking for a day job.
MERCHANT SAYS VERDEJO “REAL DEAL”
Verdejo, whom retired HBO personality Larry Merchant “likes” a lot, improved to 18-0, 13 KOs with a UD 10 over Ivan Najero (16-1, 8 KOs). Dropping his man in rounds five and seven, the win was never in doubt. Scores were 100-88 twice & 99-89.
DEONTAY WILDER ERASES DON KING’S GUY IN NINE
2008 Olympic Bronze medal winner Deontay Wilder held on to the WBC heavyweight title with a TKO 9 over Willie Standup, aka Eric Molina. A homecoming of sorts in Alabama, Wilder stayed busy with a “work” fight as he improved to 34-0, 33 KOs. And while Deontay is finding his groove, Pedro Fernandez on his show is talking as if 2012 Olympic champ Anthony Joshua (12-0, 12 KOs) would handle Wilder with ease.
WILDER NEEDS A “BREATHING” FOE
That being said, Joshua is still a work in process and he has done well against journeyman types as he illustrated by taking out Kevin “Kingpin” Johnson like he were a bowling pin in round two after dropping the ex-heavyweight title challenger in the opener before finishing him in the second. Note to self, Johnson went the route with Vitali Klitschko, never posing horizontally as he did with Joshua a couple of weeks ago.
FIGHTS IN HOLLYWOOD, CALIF!
Rated jr. welterweight contender Jose Felix Jr (30-1-1, 24 KOs) beat back Yakubu Amidu (21-7-2, 19 KOs) on Saturday night at the Florentine Gardens in Hollywood, California. In round nine, both guys were down! Scores: 97-93 twice & 98-92.
Andre Hanlett
Editor’s Note: Welcome our new guy to the RingTalk.com crew in Andre Hanlett. Having wanted to write for a long time, Andre will replace John Signorella (whom we wish all the best) from here on. Raised in Medford, OR, now living in Silicon Valley, Andre is a former amateur scrapper that devotes a lot of his free time studying the history of boxing and prize fighting.
WILDER, WALTERS & VERDEJO TOP BOXING RESULTS