At the Bank of America Convention Center in Corpus Christi, TX, Saturday over ESPN Top Rank featured WBO Super Middleweight champion southpaw Gilberto Ramirez, 38-0 (25), of Sinaloa, MEX, who halted the No. 4 ranked contender Habib Ahmed, 25-1-1 (17), of Accra, GH, at 1:50 of the sixth round. His last challenger Jesse “Hollywood” Hart also defeat a fighter from GH in the first round.
In the main event in the opening round the taller Ramirez boxed well enough to take the round while Ahmed didn’t embarrass himself. In the second round the challenger Ahmed kept busy but not enough to win the round from the champion Ramirez. In the third round referee Lawrence Cole said “break” to the boxers in a clinch while and Ahmed landed a punch after breaking. Ramirez came back working the body and head of Ahmed. Referee Cole called a halt as Ramirez suffered a cut over his left eye with a clash of heads. He went right after Ahmed but the challenger still held his own.
In the fourth round Ramirez landed a four punch combination to the head of Ahmed who came back with a combination of his own. Ramirez was stalking a back pedaling Ahmed and took the round landing more than Ahmed. In the fifth round a right uppercut from Ramirez to the chin of Ahmed rocked him. Ramirez followed up with a flurry of punches. Ahmed fought back but didn’t have the fire power that Ramirez possessed. In the sixth round Ramirez rocked Ahmed with a left uppercut to the chin forcing Ahmed to run from him. After continuing to pound a game Ahmed the challenger’s trainer called it off forcing referee Cole to call a halt.
Super Middleweight Jesse “Hollywood” Hart, 23-1 (19), of Philadelphia, PA, stopped Thomas Awinbono, 25-8-1 (21), of GH, no living in The Bronx, NY, at 1:28 of the first round scoring two knockdowns.
In the opening round the much taller Hart moved around the ring and dropped Awinbono twice with right hands making the referee Lee Rodgers to wave it off. The first knockdown was with a right uppercut to the chin. The second was a combination on the chin. It was the first time Awinbono was stopped.
His father Eugene “Cyclone” Hart was home in Philadelphia sick. He is the co-trainer along with Fred Jenkins. “I want to thank God. I was well prepared for this fight and happy birthday mom and dad this win was for you,” said Hart. He wants a rematch with WBO champion Zurdo Ramirez who was the main event on the same card.
Lightweight Teofimo Lopez, 8-0 (6), of Honduras now in Davie, FL, defeated late sub Juan Pablo Sanchez, 30-15 (14), of Mexico, over 6 rounds despite receiving a cut in the third round.
In the opening bout Lopez had his way for the most part. He has height and reach on the late sub Sanchez. In the second round Lopez got cut over the left eye from an accidental clash of heads. In the third round Sanchez was getting good left hooks in on Lopez. Lopez not panicking for a 20 year old but the blood is flowing down the left side of his face. Sanchez did well re-opening the cut and Lopez goes back after another round with a “cocky” look on his face. It’s the first cut he has received in his short career.
In the fourth round Lopez landed a three punch combination rocking Sanchez. He knows he wants a knockout before the cut gets any worse. Lopez is walking Sanchez down and teeing off on him. Sanchez ended the round with a nice combination to the head of Lopez. In the fifth round Lopez is throwing punches with bad intentions. Lopez hurt Sanchez with half a dozen punches but Sanchez came back with a left hook and got off the ropes. Sanchez landed a pair of left hooks to the head of Lopez who came back trying to take Sanchez out. A combination from Lopez knocked Sanchez off balance several steps toward the ropes. Lopez waves to his fans and continues to smile. He is a showman. In the sixth and final round the father and trainer of Lopez encouraged him to take Sanchez out. Lopez does little body work trying to score a knockout to the chin. Lopez landed four straight right hands before Sanchez landed one in return. Sanchez
Judges scores were 60-54 twice and 59-55 as did this write have it 59-55. Lopez is under a Top Rank contract and will not be able to return in a month as scheduled due to that cut he should be on suspension by the Texas commission.
IBF World Super Flyweight Champion southpaw Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas, 29-1-1 (20), of Cavite City, PH, defended his title stopping Israel Gonzalez, 21-2 (8), Baja CA Sur, MEX, at 1:50 of the tenth round.
In the opening round the champion Ancajas landed a solid left to the chin of Gonzalez dropping him. Referee Rafael Ramos gave him the eight-count. Gonzalez missed and Ancajas countered. Ancajas didn’t follow-up to finish off his opponent but was content to go back to work. In the second round Gonzalez came back well until an Ancajas left to the head hit him. Gonzalez may not have won the round but he recovered well from the knockdown. In the third round Gonzalez landed several right hands while Ancajas came back with a lead left to the head. In the fifth round both boxers slugged it out. Gonzalez bounced back well and hurt Ancajas with a right that made the champion clinch. Ancajas landed a lead left hand making Gonzalez clinch. Ancajas ended the round with a lead left to the chin of Gonzalez.
In the sixth round the fight remained very competitive and in the seventh round Ancajas ended the round with a solid left hand to the head of Gonzalez and seemed to gain the round. In the eighth round Ancajas drove Gonzalez into the ropes with a hard left to the chin. He ended the round with a right hook to the head of what seemed to be a fading Gonzalez. In the ninth round Ancajas was landing three to every one that Gonzalez landed. Halfway through the round Ancajas rocked Gonzalez with a straight left on the chin.
In the tenth round Ancajas was out landing Gonzalez hurting him and following up dropping him twice with left hands to the chin while Gonzalez had his hands to his side for the first one. He went after Gonzalez with a devastating lead left to the chin of Gonzalez. Referee Ramos waved it off.