At the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL, Premier Boxing Champions promoted the event on Saturday night over FOX network with Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” defending his WBC heavyweight title for the fourth time.
In the main event WBC heavyweight champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder, 37-0 (36), of Tuscaloosa, AL, won after 8 rounds when the trainer of Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola, 36-5-1 (30), ranked No. 9, of Escondido, CA, told referee Jack Reese the fight is over. It wasn’t a very impressive showing by Wilder and Arreola looked like he was just in for a pay day. Wilder clowned around at different times in the fight making it look more like a gym workout.
In the opening round it was all Wilder using his jab and only throwing his right hand once while Arreola only threw one punch with 10 seconds to go in the round. In the third round Wilder came out with a load of grease on his face without referee Reisse doing nothing about it. The fans are not happy with the little amount of action going into the third round. A straight right by Wilder landed but not solidly.
In the fourth round with Wilder in a neutral corner Arreola landed several punches to the body of Wilder who clowned around. Wilder landed a right to the head and a chopping left to the back of a crouching Arreola who took a knee. Wilder not known for landing straight punches fought like he didn’t want to knock out Arreola who admitted he didn’t deserve a title fight. In the fifth round Arreola had Wilder against the ropes until Wilder landed a right uppercut to the chin while taking a step backwards. In the sixth round it seemed more like a gym sparring session with Arreola content to go the distance and Wilder doing what he had to do to just continue to winning the round.
In the seventh round it was more of Arreola with hands held high and when he got Wilder against the ropes he only went to the body with little power. Arreola had quite a bit of swelling around his eyes. In the eighth round Wilder is landing a much better jab than at anytime in the fight. The trainer of Arreola called the fight off by telling the referee Arreola had enough.
“I broke my (right) hand and pulled a muscle earlier in the fight but didn’t want Chris (Arreola) to know about it. I want to unify the titles if they want to fight me,” said Wilder. I don’t think any of the champions would fear getting in with Wilder after that showing.
In the best fight on the card Welterweight southpaw Sammy “The Who Can Mexican” Vasquez, 21-1 (15), of Monessen, PA, ranked No. 9 in the WBC and former Olympic Gold Medalist southpaw Felix Diaz, 18-1 (8), of the Dominican Republic, ranked No. 10 for the WBC as a super lightweight battled to a majority draw over 10 rounds. They were both brought back into the ring showing all 3 judges had their scores changed. It seemed like all the judges forgot to deduct the point in the tenth round by the referee against Vasquez.
In the first round it was all Vasquez who backed Diaz to the ropes and neutral corner using an effective jab. Just prior to the bell Vasquez landed 3 left to the head of Diaz. In the second round it was Diaz the aggressor in a very close round. A Diaz jab was the best punch he landed getting the attention of Vasquez who out landed Diaz. In the third round it was Vasquez once again becoming the aggressor. Diaz looked very clumsy coming forward missing most of his punches. The referee warned both fighters for holding too much. Diaz hurt Vasquez who grabbed and held him the last 15 seconds of the round.
In the fourth round Diaz landed a combination followed up by another 4 unanswered punches. Diaz is starting to show his strength while Vasquez is a very smarty boxer. In the fifth round Vasquez allows Diaz to drive him against the ropes and score with hard short punches. In the sixth round Vasquez looks like he did in the first round scoring well with jabs and even a right uppercut. When Diaz scores well it’s when he gets Vasquez against the ropes and Vasquez ties him up. Diaz scored the final 5 punches of the round.
In the seventh round the strong jabs of Diaz draws blood from the nose of Vasquez. Diaz tries to draw Vasquez to the ropes but when Vasquez comes in and immediately backs up Diaz awkwardly comes forward missing with his punches. In the eighth round Diaz drives Vasquez to the ropes also drawing blood from the mouth of Vasquez causing him to have his mouth open. His mouthpiece falls out for the second time. His face was showing swelling while Diaz is starting to show boat a little trying to lure Vasquez into mixing it up. Vasquez may have a gash over his right eye. In the ninth round Vasquez rocked Diaz coming off the ropes and moves him across the ring against the ropes scoring well. Diaz has a power jab while Vasquez lands more punches.
In the tenth and final round the referee took a point from Vasquez due to his mouthpiece dropping out for the third time. Vasquez is cut inside the mouth so he is having trouble keeping it in. Though the face of Vasquez is covered with blood claiming he got head butted the referee Keith Hughes told him to continue. Vasquez may have pulled out this round but losing a point could make it even.
Judges Karen Holderfield scored it 96-93 Diaz while the other two judges Ron Moon and Irwin Deutsch had it 95-94 Diaz. This writer had it 95-94 for Diaz with the point deduction in the final round being the difference in the decision going to Diaz.
Junior middleweight southpaw Erickson “Hammer” Lubin, 16-0 (11), of Orlando, FL, defeated Ivan “Terrible” Montero, 20-2 (8), of MEX, over 8 foul filled rounds.
In the opening round Lubin seemed to land the more effective punches. In the second round Lubin continues to outland Montero but there is much too much clinching. In the third and fourth rounds Lubin seems to have an edge with an effective jab and an occasional left to the head.
In the fifth round there was little action in the round. Lubin was twice warned for low blows giving Montero a short rest after the second warning. In the sixth and seventh rounds Lubin continues to come forward and out work Montero. The eighth round was more of the same with Lubin out scoring Montero 2-1.
All 3 Judges had it 80-72 as did this writer. Flynn Gerald was the ref.