At the Bubble, MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV, Eleider “Storm” Alvarez was knocked out by Joe “The Beast” Smith, Jr., in the Main Event of a Top Rank Boxing – Bob Arum over ESPN, Saturday.
In the Main Event former WBO Light Heavyweight champion Eleider “Storm” Alvarez, 25-2 (13), #174 ½, of COL, and Montreal, CAN, was knocked out by Joe “The Beast” Smith, Jr., 26-3 (21), #174 ¾, of Long Island, NY, at 0:26 of the ninth round in a scheduled 12 rounds.
In the first four rounds Smith dominated bloodying the nose of Alvarez in the fourth round. In the seventh round Alvarez rocked Smith with a right on the side of the head. In the ninth round Smith landed a lead right on the chin of Alvarez knocking him under the ropes for the count of referee Tony Weeks.
“I knew coming into this fight I had to watch his right hand after watching the Kovalev fight. I wanted to prove I’m not just a knockout guy by boxing and still getting the knockout. I have to work hard every day and hope to get a second title shot”, said Smith.
Super Lightweight Julian “Hammer Hands” Rodriguez, 20-0 (13), #141 ½, of Hasbrouck, NJ, stopped Anthony Laureano, 13-1 (4), #145 ¾”, of East Hartford, CT, at 2:50 of the first in a scheduled 10 rounds.
In the first round Rodriguez scored 3 knockdowns forcing referee Russell Mora halt it. A right uppercut on the chin for first knockdown. A pair of rights on the chin for the second and a right on the chin for the third knockdown.
Former WBA Middleweight champ Rob “Bravo” Brant, 26-2 (18) ,#161 ¼, of Dallas, TX, stopped Vitalii, Kopylenko, 28-3 (16), #159 ½, of UKR, Oxnard, CA, at the end of five rounds of a scheduled 10 rounds.
In the second round Brant had Kopylenko swelling under his left eye. By the end of the fifth the eye was almost closed. Referee Jay Nady came over, took a look and the corner stopped the fight.
Bantamweight southpaw Robert “Biggie”Rodriguez, 9-0-1 (5), #119, of San Antonio, TX, CA, knocked out southpaw Abel Soriano, 10-1 (7), #118, of Bellevue, NEB, at 2:59 of the first round of a scheduled 6 rounds.
In the first round Rodriguez scored 3 knockdowns starting with a left hook body shots twice and stopping Soriano with a right hook on the chin. Soriano was cut on the left eyebrow. Referee was Russell Mora.
Featherweight Duke Ragan, 1-0 (1), of Cincinnati, OH, #125 ½, stopped Luis Alvarado, 1-2 (0), #126 ¾, of Pasco, WA, of 1:54 in the first round of a scheduled 4 rounds.
In the first round a lead right from Ragan on the chin of Alvarado and down he went. Upon rising he walked to a corner without turning around when referee Jay Nady waved it off.
Super Welterweight Wendy “Haitian Fire” Toussaint, 12-0 (5), #154 ¼, Haiti, Huntington, NY, defeated Isiah Jones, 9-3 (3), #157 ¼, of Detroit, MI, over 8 rounds. Referee was Russell Mora.
In the first through the tenth round Toussaint dominated.
Scores were 79-73 twice and 80-72 as did the writer have it.
Super Middleweight “Cassius” Clay Collard, 9-2-3 (4), #159 ¾, of Burley, ID, stopped Maurice “The Bounty Hunter” Williams, 7-2 (3), #158 ¼, of Oklahoma City, OK, at 1:54 of the second round of a 6.
In the second round Collard landed a right on the chin of Williams dropping him. Upon rising Collard was all over Williams having him out on his feet against the ropes when referee Tony Weeks wisely waved it off.
Lightweight Adrian Valdovinos, 5-0-1 (4), of CA, Israel “Bad Ways” Mercado, 7-0 (7), of Pomona, CA, 6 rounds.
In the first four rounds it was even. In the fifth Mercado had Valdovinos bleeding from the mouth. In the sixth and final round Mercado finished the stronger of the two.
Scores were 60-54 twice and 59-55 with this writer 58-56