At the State Farm Arena, in Atanta, GA, Mayweather Promotions and TGB Promotions over Showtime Saturday interim WBA World Light Heavyweight champion Jean Pascal won a disputed split decision keeping his title against former WBC and IBF World Super Middleweight champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack, of Sweden. In the Main Event WBA and IBF World Super Featherweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis, stopped former WBA and IBF Featherweight champion Yuriorkos Gamboa for the vacant WBA World Lightweight title.
In the co-feature interim WBA World Light Heavyweight champion Jean Pascal, 35-6-1 (20), #174.8, of Haiti out of Quebec, Canada, won a disputed split decision over former WBC and IBF World Super Middleweight champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack, record? #174.6, of Sweden, out of Las Vegas, NV, over 12 rounds.
In the first round Pascal came out throwing punches easily outworking Jack. In the second round while Jack was standing his ground he got caught with a solid left hook to the chin halfway thru the round. Pascal got warned after landing several punches behind the head of Jack by referee Bill Clancy.
In the third round Jack landed a right to the chin of Pascal hurting him. In the last fifteen seconds of the round both fighters let it all hang out but it was Pascal landing harder punches at the bell. In the fourth round Jack seemed to have an edge until a right from Pascal on the chin dropped Jack with ten seconds left in the round. He beat the count of referee Clancy at the bell.
In the fifth round both fighters had their moments with Pascal once again stealing the round with a flurry of punches in the final ten seconds with half a dozen vicious body shots. In the seventh round both had their moments but again Pascal ended the final ten seconds with a flurry of punches.
In the eighth round at the halfway point Jack hurt Pascal with a right to the chin driving Pascal against the ropes landing punches without return from Pascal. Then Pascal came off the ropes holding his own. In the tenth round Jack continued outworking Pascal during the round.
In the eleventh round Jack who was well behind in the first half of the fight has swept most of the later rounds. In the twelfth and final round Lee controlled the entire round hurting Pascal in the final minute. Pascal threw a left hook that missed and went down without being hit while referee Clancy called it a knockdown. Lee came very close to scoring a knockout in the round.
Scores were Lederman 114-112 Jack, Vasquez and Linderman 114-112 for Pascal while this writer had it 114-112 for Jack.
In the Main Event WBA and IBF World Super Featherweight champion and No. 1 contender southpaw Gervonta “Tank” Davis, 23-0 (21), #134 3/4, of Baltimore, MD, stopped former WBA and IBF Featherweight champion Cuban Yuriorkos Gamboa, 30-3 (18), of Miami, FL, #134 1/2, at 1:17 of the twelfth round for the vacant WBA World Lightweight title.
In the first round Davis was the aggressor and outworked Gamboa. In the second round at the halfway point a vicious left on the chest of Gamboa and down he went for an 8-count from referee Jack Reiss. He managed to hold on to the bell. He had looked at his right foot as he got up. In between rounds Gamboa complained about his leg and shoe not wanting to fight on. His corner convinced him to continue.
In the third round Davis seemed to have an edge but never went for the finisher. Gamboa on the other hand looked awkward with his right foot but countered well for the most part. In the fourth round it was more like the previous round. Between rounds the corner of Gamboa finally taped Gamboa’s right shoe.
In the fifth round Davis hurt Gamboa with a left on the chin making Gamboa holding on. Davis was looking to finish off Gamboa who had little in return. Somehow Gamboa got thru the round. In the sixth round Gamboa was throwing occasional rights and left hooks but it was Davis in control. Davis hurt Gamboa once with a left uppercut to the body but couldn’t amount an attack looking for a finishing punch but wasn’t busy in the round.
In the seventh round Davis seemed to be loading up for a power punch Gamboa seemed to outwork him. In the eighth round Gamboa seemed the busier of the two but got hit with a left on the chin and down he went. When he got up referee Reiss made him walk to the left and actually help Gamboa get thru the final seconds of the round.
In the ninth round after near a minute a right hook from Davis on the chin hurt Gamboa. Davis who had to make weight and never had gone beyond nine rounds seemed tired though in control with Gamboa doing a lot of holding. In the tenth round it was Gamboa pressing the fight throwing rights on the most part. Gamboa landed a 3-punch combination with the final punch rocking Davis in the final minute of the round. In the final seconds of the round Davis landed a solid left to the chin of Gamboa.
In the eleventh round it was competitive with Davis hurting Gamboa in the final ten seconds. There was too much holding in the round. In the twelfth and final round near the halfway point a vicious left uppercut from Davis on the chin of Gamboa dropped him for the third time in the fight with referee Reiss calling it off without a count.
“First of all I want to thank God, my team and Al Haymon. He was a great opponent. My performance was a C+. I blame myself making weight,” said Davis. Gamboa he may have ruptured his right foot from the knockdown in the second round.
Scores were 109-98 twice and 109-107 with this writer having it 107-99 at the end of eleven rounds.
Super Bantamweight champion Angelo “El Chinito” Leo, 19-0 (9), #121 1/2, of Las Vegas, NV, in a world elimination and vacant title bout defeated Cesar “Corazon” Juarez, 25-8 (19), #121 ľ, of Mexico City, MEX, for the vacant WBO Latino Super Bantamweight title, at 1:12 of the eleventh round.
In the first four rounds Leo seemed to have the edge due to crisper punches while Vargas had the harder punches but only taking the second round. At the end of the fourth round Vargas had a bloody nose and small cut on outside of right eyebrow.
In the fifth round Vargas continued to chase Leo who countered him well. At the end of the round Leo landed a big punch to the chin of Vargas. In the sixth round Leo knocked out the mouthpiece of Vargas. Then near a minute gone when a left hook from Leo dropped Vargas for 8-count. Leo jumped on Vargas and tossed him to canvas and the referee called it a knockdown. Vargas was checked by ring physician between rounds.
In the eighth round both fighters went to the body for the most part. Vargas had loose tape for half of the round with ther referee not noticing it. In the ninth round Vargas comes out with tape hanging from his left glove. The referee is clueless. Both fighters continued to fight at a fast pace. In the tenth round Leo dominated most of the round. The referee warned Vargas at the end of the round for holding.
In the eleventh round after a minute a right from Leo dropped Vargas. He beat the count but the referee called a halt. It was only the second time in the 33 fight career of Vargas he was halted.
Former IBF Super Middleweight champion Jose “Bolivita” Uzcategui, 29-4 (24), #167.8, of VZ, out of Tijuana, MEX, lost to Lionel “Lonnie B” Thompson, 22-5 (12), #168, out of Las Vegas, NV, over 10 rounds.
In the first round Uzcategui was the agressor but a jab followed by a right from Thompson on the chin of Uzcategui with ten seconds to go in the round dropped him for an 8-count by referee George Chip.
In the second round Thompson was in control moving well using an effective jab as Uzcategui was chasing him. In the third round Thompson used his jab well keeping Uzcategui on the defense and warned for holding. By the end of the round Thompson suffered a cut in his left eyebrow possibly from a clash of heads or a hard jab.
In the fourth round referee Chip takes away a point from Thompson for holding though it was a forearm to the throat and though he warned Uzcategui time after time it was Thompson he took away the point from. Thompson’s mouthpiece came out and the referee made both fighters go to neutral corner’s and walked to Thompson’s corner and brought the mouthpiece back to the fighter instead of letting the corner handle it.
In the fifth and sixth rounds Thompson continued controlling the fight with his jab and occasional right on the chin of Uzcategui. In the seventh round it was the best for Uzcategui. In the eighth round Thompson hurt Uzcategui with a left hook on the chin making the latter grab him.
In the ninth round Uzcategui finally landed his first combination a left hook to the body and a right to the chin of Thompson. In the tenth and final round Uzcategui was told to come out southpaw for the first time in the fight. Thompson’s tape came loose on his left glove near the start and the referee was oblivous to it for the entire round. Thompson had come down from 175 to 168 for this fight.
Scores were 95-94 and 96-92 twice. This writer had it 98-90.
Super Lightweight Malik “Ice Man” Hawkins, 18-0 (11), #139 1/2, out of Baltimore, MD, halted Darwin Price, 16-1 (9), #140, out of Houston, TX, 1:18 of the fifth round due to knee injury of Price during the fifth round.
In the first round both fighters had their moments with Hawkins the aggressor and Price the counter puncher using an effective jab. In the second round Hawkins hurt Price with a left hook to the ribs being the best punch of the round.
In the third round it was Price doing the pushing forward. Price had a better round. In the fourth round Hawkins was back as the aggressor. Halfway thru the round Price landed several rights to the chin of Hawkins. Hawkins was walking into punches until just under the final minute when Hawkins rocked Price in the corner. Price seemed to have a knee injury while taking numerous punches from Hawkins. The referee finally brought in the ring physcian. Price seemed ahead after four rounds.
Light Heavyweight Ahmed Elbiali, 20-1 (17), of Egypt, out of Miami, FL, stopped Brian Vera, 26-16 (16), out of Austin, TX.