WBO World Middleweight champion Demitrius “Boo Boo” Andrade, 27-0 (17), of Providence, RI, successfully defended his title in his first defense stopping Russian southpaw Artur Akavov, 19-3(8), of Beverly Hills, CA, at 2:36 of the twelfth and final round. It was a Matchroom Boxing (Eddie Hearn) promotion at Madison Square Garden’s Theater, in New York, New York, Friday night over “The Zone”.
In the ninth round Akavov hurt Andrade with a right followed by a left to the chin of Andrade. In the tenth round Andrade came out going after Akavov whose blood was flowing from the right side of his face from an accidental head butt as Akavov came in side banging his head on the chin of Andrade. In the eleventh round Andrade looking to finish the fight kept back up Akavov using a solid jab against the retreating Akavov. Andrade follows his jab with several right hooks to the chin of Akavov. Akavov hardly landed a punch looking to survive.
Before the twelfth and final round referee Arthur Mercante threatened to stop the fight talking to Akavov who insisted he was still ready to fight. He was let to come out for the round. Andrade kept coming forth as Akavov showed heart moving back and landing several punches. Suddenly referee Mercante stopped the fight against Akavov who was furious with half a minute left in the fight. It was a bad call by Mercante. Akavov had done enough to go the distance.
At 2:36 of the final round the fight was stopped. “I felt great using my jab that was working well. I’m looking to fight GGG. He was a tough fighter but my jab controlled the fight. All I can do is destroy the top 15 and fight GGG. God bless everybody. Still the untouchable and still, and still,” said Andrade.
Akavov only won one round on all the scorecards but deserved to finish the fight.
In the co-feature former world champion Jorge Linares, 45-5 (28), of VZ, out of Tokyo, Japan, was knocked down three times and stopped at 2:48 of the first round losing to Pablo Cesar “El Demoledor” Cano, 32-7-1 (22), of Atizapan de Zaragoza, MEX, for the WBC International Silver Super Lightweight Title.
In earlier bouts TJ “The Power” Doheny, 21-0 (15), of Ireland, out of New South Wales, Australia, stopped Ryohei Takahashi, 16-4-1 (6), of Yokohama, Japan, at 2:18 of the eleventh round in keeping his IBF World Super Bantamweight Title.
Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano, 36-1-1 (27), of Brooklyn, NY, scored a first round knockout over Eva Voraberger, 24-6 (11), of Vienna, Austria, at 0:35, winning the vacant WBO World Female Super Flyweight Title.
Former world champion Chris Algieri, 23-3 (8), of Huntington, NY, continued his comeback winning a 10 round decision over Daniel “El Gallo” Gonzalez, 17-2-1 (7), of Woodhaven, NY, by scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94, for the vacant WBO International Super Lightweight Title.