After being sidelined for almost two years WBA Super World Clearwater, FL, returned to the ring with a solid title defense.
Premier Boxing Champions, Brooklyn Boxing, TG Promotions – Tom Brown and DiBella Entertainment – Lou DiBella along with matchmaker John Beninati at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, Saturday night over FOX put on a thirteen bout card featuring a world title fight in the main event.
In the Main Event WBA Super World Welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman, 29-0 (22), of Clearwater, FL, defended his title with a majority decision over No. 7 ranked Joseito “The Riverside Rocky” Lopez, 36-7 (19), of Riverside, CA, over 12 spirited rounds.
In the first round Thurman used his jab with a right after a minute. Lopez then drove him into the ropes landing several left hooks to the chin. Thurman landed a left hook to the body. Thurman landed a ight uppercut to the chin. Lopez landed a right to the chin as Thurman was moving away. Thurman landed a right just prior to the end of the round.
In the second round Thurman moved around the ring with Lopez following him. Thurman landed a good right to the head. Thurman landed a combination to the body. A left hook from Thurman on the chin dropped Lopez. He beat the count by referee Steve Willis. Thurman jumped all over him but the bell sounded saving Lopez.
In the third round Lopez chased Thurman missing several wild punches. Thurman landed a hard left hook to the head. Thurman landed a combination to both sides of the body of Lopez. Lopez comes back landing a good left body shot. Thurman ended the round with a right to the body.
In the fourth round Lopez walked into a left hook from Thurman on the chin. Thurman landed a left hook to the body. Lopez keeps coming forward not throwing much since Thurman’s jab keeps him at bey. Lopez landed a overhand right to the head. Thurman landed a left hook to the body and a right to the head at the bell.
In the fifth round Lopez landed a right to the body with Thurman against the ropes. Thurman landed a 3-punch combination to the body. Thurman landed a combination to the head with Lopez countering with a right at the bell.
In the sixth round Thurman kept a step ahead of Lopez before Lopez landed a good right to the body. Thurman landed a left to the body. Thurman landed four unanswered punches at the bell. Lopez had blood from the nose and some swelling on the forehead.
In the seventh round Thurman landed an overhand right to the side of the head. Lopez rocked Thurman with a left hook to the side of his head almost dropping him. Lopez chased Thurman landing with no Thurman punches coming back. Thurman finally came back with a combination to the head. Big round for Lopez.
In the eighth round Thurman landed a good combination to the head drawing blood from the nose of Lopez. Thurman landed a flurry of punches that Lopez walked into. Thurman’s hand speed has given Lopez trouble throughout the fight. The best punch from Lopez was a straight right to the head.
In the ninth round Thurman came out boxing making Lopez miss with a wild right. Lopez landed several body shots with Thurman on the ropes. Thurman came back with a combination but Lopez countered witha right to the head. In the tenth round Thurman kept slipping punches. At the bell both fighters were landing punches.
In the eleventh round Thurman backing up landed half a dozen punches. Lopez finally landed a right to the head. Lopez knows he needs a knockout and is waling into punches. Thurman landed a combination off the ropes but Lopez landed a right to the head. Thurman lands a flurry and moves away. Thurman landed a right uppercut to the chin. Thurman landed a right but got countered by a Lopez right.
In the twelfth and final round Thurman is dancing away knowing he is well ahead and didn’t want to take any chances. Lopez is chasing and not throwing enough. Lopez hurt Thurman with a minute left in the round with a right to the head.
Judges scores were Tom Schreck 117-111, Steve Weisfeld 115-111 and Don Akerman 113-113. This writer it 118-109.
“Now you know what its like to fight a game opponent. The champ is back. He had me buzzed once in the fight. I feel good and would fight Manny Pacquaio here in Brooklyn, Vegas or even the Philippines,” said Thurman.
No. 5 IBF Heavyweight Adam “Baby Face” Kownacki, 19-0 (15), of Lomza Poland, residing in Brooklyn, NY, since 7, destroyed Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington, 19-3-1 (12), of Vallejo, CA, at 1:09 of the second round.
In the first round Kownacki came right out throwing punches land a left on the chin and came back with a right to the chin. Washington landed a right on the chin. Kownacki landed four punches to the head. Kownacki drove Washington into the ropes. Kownacki landed half a dozen unanswered punches having Washington hurt. Kownacki had a small cut under his left eyebrow.
In the second round Washington came out firing punches. Kownacki landed four punches knocking him into the ropes dropping Washington. Referee Harvey Dock gave him about fifteen seconds asking if he was all right. Kownacki came right at him landing a pair of rights on the chin forcing referee Dock to stop the bout.
“I want to thank the team without them I wouldn’t be here. I want to tell everybody I’m going to be a daddy,” said Kownacki.
In a WBC Eliminator No. 7 WBC & WBA ranked Featherweight Tugstsogt “King Tug” Nyambayar, 11-0 (9), of Mongolia and residing in Carson, CA, defeated No. 3 WBC ranked southpaw Claudio Marrero, 23-3 (17), of Santo Domingo, DR, over 12 rounds.
In the first round Nyambayar landed a 3-punch combination to the body of Marrero. Nyambayar landed three rights to the body and head of Marrero. Marrero landed a right to the chin that was countered by a right from Nyambayar. In the second round Nyambayar landed a lead right uppercut to the mid-section of Marrero.
In the third round Nyambayar countered a right over a Marrero jab to the chin. Nyambayar landed a hard right uppercut to the chin of Marrero. Nyambayar rocked Marrero with a right to the chin. Marrero kept his right low being a southpaw he gets hit with a lead right. Nyambayar hurt Marrero with a right on the temple just before the end of the round.
In the fourth round Marrero landed a lead left to the chin. Nyambayar came right back with a combination to the head. Marrero had a better round starting to reach Nyambayar. In the fifth round Nyambayar landed a lead right to the chin of Marrero. Nyambayar drove Marrero into the ropes with a right to the chin.
In the sixth round Marrero came right out landing a combination to the head of Nyambayar. Nyambayar landed several rights to the head of Marrero knocking him back several steps. Marrero came right back landing a good left body shot. Insider Marrero landed a short left that seemed to bother Nyiamabayar’s right eye. In the seventh round Marrero landed a left uppercut to the chin. Nyambayar came right back with a combination to the head that Marrero countered.
In the eighth round both mixed up well right away. Nyambayar landed a double left hook to the head. Nyambayar landed a lead right to the chin. Marrero was more active knowing he is behind in the first half of the fight.
In the ninth round Marrero landed a good left to the chin. Marrero landed a lead left to the chin. Marrero had become the aggressor in the round. Marrero ended the round with a left on the chin. In the tenth round Marrero hit on the break with a right on the chin and lost a point from referee Benjy Esteves, Jr. Marrero got hit on the border line and complained for a rest trying to get the point back. Nyambayar landed a 3-punch combination thru the high held gloves of Marrero.
In the eleventh round Marrero came out swinging wildly with most of his punches missing. Both landerd punches at the same time on the chin. In the twelfth and final round Marrero landed two punchs behind the head getting a deserving warning. Nyambayar drove Marrero into the ropes with a flurry of punches. With about twenty seconds left Nyambayar started dancing around with his hands in the air when Marrero landed a left but was countered with a right. Marrero had swelling under and over his left eye at the end.
Judges scores Julie Lederman 114-113, John Poturaj 116-111 and Eric Marlinski 115-112. This writer had it 116-111.
Featherweight Stephan Fulton, 15-0 (7), of Philadelphia, PA, stopped Marlon Olea, 14-4 (12), of Barranquilla, COL, at 1:39 of the fifth round.
Ring Announcer was Classy Jimmy Lennon, Jr.