Dignity Sports Park, Carson, CA, TG Promotions and Sampson Boxing co-promoted over Showtime.
WBA Super World Super Featherweight champion southpaw Gervonta “Tank” Davis, 21-0 (20), of Baltimore, MD, stopped Mexico’s Hugo “Cuatito” Ruiz, 39-5 (33), of Glendora, CA, at 2:59 of the first round.
In the opening round Davis keeps late sub Ruiz backing up. Davis had Ruiz pinned in a corner landing body and head punches almost at will. A combination to the head dropped a bloody (nose) Ruiz with a right hook and Ruiz couldn’t go on. The referee Jack Reese wisely halted ther fight.
“First I want to thank God, Al Haymon and the fans. I was supposed to fight Abner Mares who was injured,” said Davis.
Lightweight from Uganda Sharif “The Lion” Bogere, 32-2 (20), of Las Vegas, NV, lost in the most foul-filled fight by decision to former WBA world title holder southpaw Dominican Javier “El Abejon” Fortuna, 34-2-1 (23), of Braintree, MASS, over 10 rounds of wrestling.
In the opening round Bogere was the aggressor against southpaw Fortuna. Bogere was the busier of the two. In the second round both were doing a lot of wrestling as referee Edward Colanter is having his work seperating them. The fans showed they are not pleased with the lack of action. In the third round the fans continued showing their displeasure. Clinch after clinch. Mostly both are throwing jabs. Fortuna drove Bogere into the ropes to the point the head of Bogere went under the top rope and Fortuna got warned not to hit him when this happens.
In the fourth round Bogere drove Fortuna into the ropes causing Fortuna to grab him. Bogere got some punches in with Fortuna against the ropes before clinching. The fans are quite upset. In the fifth round a left hook to the body from Bogere hurt Fortuna making him continue to run around the ring. They continue to wrestle and the fans let them know their displeasure. Bogere put Fortuna against the ropes before getting countered with half a dozen body shots up until the bell sounded.
In the sixth round Fortuna well behind came out firing. Bogere came right back before getting tied up again. Out of a clinch Bogere landed a pair of right’s to the head. Fortuna drove Bogere into the ropes. Bogere got cut over the right eye from an accidental clash of heads with Fortuna coming in. Bogere went down from a punch behind the head with his glove touching but got right up causing a knockdown though Fortuna also went down from tripping over Bogere’s foot.
In the seventh round Fortuna hurt Bogere with a combination causing Bogere to hold. Both are continuously banging heads. The holding looks like a pair of amateurs. Bogere landed a combination just before the round ended. In the eighth round after a minute the referee calls in the ring physician to check Bogere’s cut. The referee warned Bogere for holding when they resumed action. This happens to be one of the worst foul filled fight this writer has seen.
In the ninth round Bogere landed a right to the chin. He backs Fortuna back into the ropes. The holding is only getting worse. Fortuna landed a left to the chin before getting tied up. Bogere countered with a combination to the head. Bogere grabs bringing the fans boo’s coming.
In the tenth and final round it’s both fighters throwing and clinching. Fortuna landed several punches before Bogere tied him up. Thank goodness it’s over!
Scores were 96-93 by all judges for Fortuna while this writer had it 95-94 for Bogere.