On ESPN Friday Bob Arum’s Top Rank in Association with Greg Cohen promoting at the Grand Casino in Hinckley, MN, with a world title middleweight main event.
Rob “Bravo” Brant, 25-1 (17), out of Dallas, TX, stopped 21 year-old Russian Khasan Baysangurov, 17-1 (7), out of Kiev, UKR, at 1:42 of the eleventh round, retaining his WBA World Middleweight title, in a scheduled 12 rounds.
Brant had Baysangurov down in the second round with a right off the shoulder of Baysangurov onto his ear. Brant continued getting the best of the challenger the rest of the way until the eleventh with a double jab and chopping right. He ended it with a right cross and down went Baysangurov. The referee Mark Nelson saw enough and waved it off.
The co-feature Bantamweight Joshua “Don’t Blink” Greer, Jr., 20-1-1 (12), out of Chicago, IL, knocked out Giovanni “Little Giant” Escaner, 19-4 (12), at 2:33 of the eighth round retaining the Continental Americas title of a schedule 10 rounds.
In the opening round Escaner was the aggressor while Greer the quicker of the two. In the second round both fighters let it all out with a good exchange from both. Both fighters were throwing punches with bad intentions. Escaner landed a flush right on the chin. Greer landed a jab at the bell making Escaner’s legs to buckle.
In the third round Greer stared “show boating” as Escaner chases him. Just prior to the bell Escaner countered a blocked Greer right dropping Greer with a right hand. In the fourth round Greer came out firing punches hurting with a dozen unanswered punches. Both fighters landed left hooks on the chin.
In the fourth round Greer landed eight unanswered punches to the body. Escaner backed Greer against the ropes. In the sixth round both fighters flurried near the end, first Greer and then Escaner. In the seventh round Escaner contined chasing Greer until the latter stops and they both go to the body.
In the eighth round Greer continued a vicious body attack. Green would end it with a body shot dropping Escaneer to his knees getting counted out by referee Mark Nelson.
Except for getting knocked down in the third round Green won every other round. “First I want to thank God for without Him nothing happens. I want to thank Bob Arum of Top Rank. I’m only 21 and still learning,” said Greer.
2012 Olympian Super Featherweight Mikaela Mayer, 9-0 (4), won a lopsided decision over Yareli “Chololita” Larios, 13-1-1 (3), out of Guadalajara, MEX, in a NABF Super Featherweight Title bout, over 8 rounds.
After dropping the first round Mayer easily won going away the remainder five rounds over the smaller Larios who did her best to go the distance.
Scores were 79-73, 80-72 and 78-74 while this writer had it 79-73.
Super Middleweight No. 8 WBA southpaw Derrick “Take It to the Bank” Webster, 28-1 (14), from Glassboro, NJ, lost a lopsided decision to southpaw Lennox “Too Sharp” Allen, 22-0-1 (14), of Guyana, residing in NY, over 10 rounds for the vacant WBA Gold title.
Webster proclaimed to be the “best southpaw in boxing” prior to the fight predicting he will be “better this fight than ever”. He wasn’t even the best southpaw in the ring tonight. Webster had a “and the new” on the front of his shirt. He should have exchanged shirts with Allen at the end. He did show good sportsmanship after the announcing of the decision acknowledging he lost by applauding the much better performance of the new Gold Super Middleweight champion Lennox “Too Sharp” Allen!
Allen wanted it more than Webster and it paid off. Allen took rounds 2 thru 6 after dropping the opening round. Webster came back taking rounds seven and eight. Allen wrapped it up taking the last two rounds with Webster giving him the final round.
In the first round Webster controlled the round with his jab and blocking almost everything Allen tried landing. Allen finally got in an over hand left to the chin. In the second round Webster continue controlling with his jab. Allen landed a looping right on the chin. Allen landed that right hook on several more occasions on the chin. Webster continued only using his reach.
In the third round Allen landed a lead left on the chin. Both fighters banged heads with Webster getting the worst of it getting checked by the ring physician. A thunderous right from Allen on the chin knocked Webster down against the ropes just prior to the bell.
In the fourth round Allen landed a pair of jabs followed by a right to the chin. Allen jabs from a crouch to the body of Webster. Allen took over with the quicker jab. A jab followed by a pair of right hooks to the chin of Webster. Allen landed a left to the chin at the bell.
In the fifth round Allen landed a left cross to the head of Webster who is no longer blocking punches as he did in the earlier rounds. Allen rocked Webster putting him against the ropes with a flurry of punches right up to the bell. In the sixth round Webster landed a 3-punch combination. Allen came back with a solid right hook to the chin. Allen missed with a left but followed through with a right hook on the chin. Allen drove Webster into the ropes with a flurry.
In the seventh round Webster landed a solid left on the chin. Webster finally woke up landing a flurry. In the eighth round a right hook from Allen knocked Webster back several steps. A double jab from Allen on the chin put Webster back into the ropes. Allen’s inactivity starting to show as he was slowing down and taking a break in the round.
In the ninth round both boxers got into more clinches than the entire first eight rounds. Allen landed a good left to the body of Webster. Allen regained control in this round as time was running out for Webster.
In the tenth and final round Webster came out landing a pair of right hooks to the body. Webster kept moving around the ring as if he was ahead not realizing he needs a knockout. Allen has completely outsmarted Webster out jabbing the jabber.
Scores were 98-91 twice and 97-92 while this writer had it 97-92.
Light Heavyweight Steven Nelson, 13-0 (10), of Omaha, NEB, defeated Felipe “El Indio” Romero, 20-17-1 (14), of La Paz, Baja, CA, MEX, over 6 rounds.
In the first round the shorter Nelson dedicating the fight to his recently late mother seemed to have things under control until a right hand from Romero off the shoulder onto the head of Nelson and down he went. In the second round Romero who came in overweight seemed sluggish. Nelson had world welter champ Terence “Bud” Crawford cheering his stable mate on at ringside. Nelson was in control for the most part of the round using his jab.
In the third round Romero missed a left hook and got countered with a right cross on the chin. Nelson landed a left hook to the mid-section causing a delayed knockdown. In the fourth round former Army vet Nelson landed a solid right cross on the chin. Romero was bleeding from the mouth in the final minute of the round. Nelson landed a right uppercut. Both fighters landed left hooks to the chin.
In the fifth round Nelson worked the body of the tiring Romero. Nelson ended the round with a solid right to the chin of Romero. In the sixth and final round Nelson landed a solid right on the chin. Inside Nelson landed a right uppercut. Romero was bleeding from the nose. Romero hung onto Nelson getting through the round.
Scores were 59-54 twice and 58-54 as did this writer have it. Referee was Mark Nelson.
Super Featherweight Ugandan Ismail “Sharp Shooter” Muwendo, 21-1 (12), of Minneapolis, MN, defeated Hevinson Herrera, 24-16-1 (18), of Barranquilla, COL, out of Miami, FL, over 6 rounds.
In the first round Muwendo coming off his first loss used his jab setting up right hands to the chin. Herrera worked the body. In the second round Muwendo outworked Herrera. In the final thirty seconds a solid right from Herrera on the chin of Muwendo.
In the third round both fighters landed straight rights on the chin. Herrera landed a right in the final seconds while Muwendo landed a flurry of punches up until the bell. In the fourth round both fighters are head hunting looking for a knockout. In the final thirty seconds Muwendo rocked Herrera with a right to the chin.
In the sixth and final round Muwendo continued throwing rights to the head of Herrera who has taken quite a few in the fight. Herrera got in one solid right inside the final minute of the round. Muwendo kept up his head attack.
Scores were 60-54 as was this writer’s.
Middleweight “Nathan” Tyler Howard, 16-0 (11), of Crossville, TN, won a split decision over Mexican Cristian “Ruso” Olivas, 16-4 (13), of San Ysidro, CA, over 8 rounds.
In the first round it was all Howard. In the second round Howard landed quite a few rights to the head of Olivas. In the third round Howard worked the body well. Both fighters landed left hooks to the chin with Olivas getting the worst of it. Howard rocked Olivas with a right on the chin just prior to the bell. Howard had an abrasion under his right eye at the end of the round.
In rounds five through six Howard slowed down. Howard has a real shiner at this point under his right eye. In the seventh round Olivas was dominating a tired Howard. Olivas landed four unanswered solid punches to the chin of Howard right up to the bell.
In the eighth and final round both fighters fatigued but throwing more punches right up to the bell. The fans enjoyed that one.
Scores were 77-75 each fighter and 79-73 with this writer 77-75
In the opening bout Super Welterweight Joe “The Sniper” James, 4-0 (2), of St. Cloud, MN, defeated Demitrius Wilson, 2-11 (0), of Florissant, MO, over 4 rounds.
In the first two rounds the taller James was the aggressor against the opponent Wilson used his jab to control things. In the third round James delivered a double jab as Wilson was going backwards and down went Wilson. Wilson claimed he was tripped. In the fourth and final round James hit Wilson on the back of the head without referee Louis Pabon warning him. Wilson was in the survival mode the entire fight.
All 3 judges and this writer had it 40-35.