Matchroom Boxing – Eddie Hearn in the Main Event brought in former WBA and IBF Middleweight champion Danny “Miracle Man” Jacobs and former WBC World Middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., at Talking Stick Resort Arena, in Phoenix, AZ, on Friday over DAZN watching Chavez quit after 4 rounds with the fans rioting with the outcome!
In the co-feature for the vacant WBC World Flyweight match No. 1 Julio “El Rey” Cesar Martinez, 15-1-1nc (12), #112, of Mexico, stopped No. 2 Cristofer “El Latigo” Rosales, 29-4 (20), 111.3, of Managua, Nicaragua at 1:19 of the ninth round to win the world title.
In the first round both showed their skills. Martinez getting the edge. In the second round the both fighters let it all hang out! Martinez switching back and forth from orthodox to southpaw. In the final minute of the round Martinez was cut over the right eyelid. Talk about a “round of the year!”
In the third round the action continued with Martinez’s quicker hands may have gotten an edge though smaller of the two. In the fourth round Martinez landed uppercuts with both hands drawing blood from the nose of Rosales while blood was flowing from his own cut. In the final seconds Rosales landed a solid right on the chin of Martinez at the bell.
In the fifth round Martinez dealt a beating to the body of Rosales throughout the round. In the sixth round Martinez landed uppercut after uppercut to the chin of Rosales. What a finish to the round by both fighters. Referee Caiz, Jr., brought the ring physician in after the round to check Rosales.
In the seventh round Martinez continued to stalk Rosales hurting him in the final thirty seconds though Rosales fought back. There was much swelling under the right eye of Rosales. In the eighth round Martinez continued banging the read of Rosales. Rosales didn’t win the round but fought back well. At the end of the round the referee told the Rosales corner “one more round like this and I will stop it!”
In the ninth round with Martinez landing a flurry of punches having Rosales against the ropes referee Raul Ciaz, Jr. wisely called a halt. Martinez looked spectacular.
“We knew that Christopher Rosales was going to be a tough fighter but we can out of it a champion. We want to go for all the belts and thank all the people of Mexico,” said Martinez
In the Main Event former WBA and IBF Middleweight champion now at light heavy due to Chavez coming in heavy, Danny “Miracle Man” Jacobs, 36-3 (30), out of Brooklyn, NY, #167.7, stopped former WBC Middleweight champion Julio “J.C. Jr.” Cesar Chavez, Jr., 51-4-1 (33), #172.7, out of Sinaola, MEX, after 4 rounds of a scheduled 12 rounds.
In the first round Chavez kept coming forward as the crowd cheered him. Jacobs warned for low blow in final seconds. Then landed the final two punches of the round. In the second round near the end of the first minute Chavez landed a good overhand right to the head of Jacobs. Jacobs used a good jab keeping Chavez “honest!”
In the third round Jacobs did well boxing Chavez and seemed to take the round. In the fourth round Chavez looks slow coming forward as the hand speed of Jacobs dominates the round. In the fourth round Chavez missing quite a bit while Jacobs caused a small cut on the left eyebrow of Chavez.
In between rounds Chavez claimed a hurt right hand refusing to come out. He had a possible broken nose.
“I want to dedicate this fight to Patrick Day (the late Day), and want the best of the super middleweight division,” said Jacobs.
Former WBA World Super Lightweight champion Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker, 27-1-3 (18), #144.3, out of Dallas, TX, now WBC No. 10 ranked welterweight stopped Uriel “Bombardero” Perez, 19-5 (17), out of Queretaro, MEX, at 2:52 of the first round of a 10 round.
In the first round Hooker boxed the ears off of Perez. Hooker dropped him with a chopping right hand and hit him when he was down and could have been DQ’d. Perez beat the count but refused to continue.
“I feel good and want my belt out at 140. I feel fine with my new trainer,” said Hooker.
WBC Silver Super Welterweight champion Liam “Beefy” Smith, 29-2-1 (16), #159.9, out of Liverpool, UK, defeated late sub Mexican Roberto “La Amenaza” Garcia, 42-5 (25) #155.5, out of Weslaco, TX, over 10 rounds.
In the first round Smith landed with uppercuts from both hands to the body of the oncoming Garcia. In the second round Garcia was warned twice by referee Nelson for grabbing on the back of the head. Garcia had a bloody nose by the end of the round with Smith controlling the round.
In the third round Garcia warned again for pushing down the head of Smith. Inside of the final minute Smith hurt Garcia with a left hook to the body. Garcia warned for using his head into the chin of Smith. In the fourth round twice more Garcia warned about pushing down on the head of Smith. Smith landed numberous left hooks to the body and chin of Garcia.
In the fifth round again Garcia warned for pushing down the head. and again for hitting behind the head. At the halfway point Garcia had Smith against the ropes. Smith finally got Garcia to back up. Garcia ended the round with a flurry of punches to the chin of Smith.
In the sixth round it was close with each fighter having their way. In the seventh round inside the second minute of the round Smith was scoring heavy to the head and body of Garcia. In the seventh round it was all Smith outpunching mostly to the body of Garcia hurting him several times.
In the eighth round Garcia warned for a head butt. It was all Smith dishing out a beating mainly to the body of Garcia. In the ninth round Garcia had Smith against the ropes. Into the second minute of the round it was Smith countering Garcia well. Late sub Garcia looked fatigued.
In the tenth and final round Smith was going for the knockout. It was all Smith easily handling 39 year-old Garcia who took the fight on six days notice. Garcia had swelling under his right eye at the end.
Scores were 99-91 twice and 98-92 with this writer’s 99-91.
“I liked the fact Robert Garcia came forward to me. He was slow,” said Smith. He is one of four fighting brothers and made his US debut.
Welterweight southpaw 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist Daniyar “Kazakh Thunder” Yeleussinov, 8-0 (4), out of KAZ and Miami, FL, takes on Mexican Alan Sanchez, 20-4-1 (10), out of Fairfield, CA, 10 rounds.
2016 Olympian Welterweight Josh “Pretty Boy” Kelly, 10-0-1 (6), #150.4, of Sunderland, UK, defeated Wiston “El Zurdo” Campos, 31-7-6 (19), #148.4, out of Managua, NIC, over 10 rounds.
In the first round hands down Kelly pressed Campos only to end up with a cut on right eyebrow and the bridge of the nose. In the second round Kelly warned for the second time hitting behind the head by referee Raul Caiz, Jr. Campos from the southpaw side is out jabbing Kelly and in the final minute he backed Kelly into a corner momentarily. In the final ten seconds a right uppercut from Kelly on the chin of Campos rocked him but was saved by the bell from any follow-up.
In the third round the fans were yelling for action. Just over a minute both fighters let it all out with Campos getting the better of it while Kelly’s blood from over his right eye is running down the side of his face. In the fourth round both fighters had their moments with Kelly countering with right uppercut to the chin of Campos who used a jab and right hook.
In the fifth round inside the final minute both opened up with Campos getting the better of it. Campos waits for Kelly to come in to counter him. Kelly uses lead rights to the chin. In the sixth round Campos continues blocking quite a few of Kelly’s punches. Kelly drove Campos into a corner only to have the latter drive him back with a variety of punches.
In the seventh round almost immediately Kelly warned once again for hitting behind the head. Normally after three warnings for the same foul a referee takes a point away but this one didn’t. Camps pushed Kelly to the canvas. In the eighth round the fouling and sloppiness of the fight continued. Kelly is trying to box like Roy Jones, Jr. but seems to be behind though taking the round.
In the ninth round within seconds having Campos against the ropes Kelly kept a forearm and glove in his face and was warned. At the halfway point Campos flurried keeping Kelly on the . Kelly ended up the round man handling Campos.
In the final round Kelly landed a right off the arm of Campos onto the chin for a knockdown.
Scores were 99-90 twice 98-91 while this writer had it 95-95. You have to wonder about the wide scoring of the judges.
Welterweight Reshat “Albanian” Mati, 6-0 (4), #out of Staten Island, NY, stopped Rakim Johnson, 6-9-1 (5), #146.4, out of Indianapolis, IND, at 2:05 of the first in a scheduled 4 rounds.
In the first round under a minute a Mati left hook to the mid-section dropped Johnson. He was up and dropped a second time by a right to the back of the ear by Mati. A third knockdown was a left hook on the arm and a fourth knockdown and the referee Richard Soto finally called a halt.
Super Featherweight southpaw Raymond “Savage” Ford, 5-0 (4), #121, out of Camden, NJ, stopped Francisco “Cisco” Mora, 3-7 (0), #123.8, out of Tucson, AZ, at 1:41 of the first round of a 6 rounds.
In the first round a lead left, right and final left from Ford on the chin of Mora and down he went. Over a dozen unanswered punches dropped Mora a second time forcing the referee Richard Soto to stop the fight.
IBHOF Referee Steve “Double SS” Smoger commenting on the rules of the fights when asked.