At the Legacy Center in Birmingham, AL, Premier Boxing Champions promoted at WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder’s fifth defense on the FOX Network. All three winners had to come from behind to win.
In the Main Event Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder, 38-0 (37), of Tuscaloosa, AL, came back and stopped his No. 8 contender Gene “El Gallo Negro” Washington, 18-0-1 (12), of Vallejo, CA, at 1:45 of the fifth round.
In the opening round its Washington the aggressor using a jab and throwing quite a few rights at the head of Wilder who doesn’t seem to be able to get his right hand going. In the second round Washington used an effective jab moving Wilder back every time it lands. In the third round Wilder finally throws the right hand. Washington seems to have stopped using the jab that has got him ahead through the first three rounds.
In the fourth round with approximately a minute to go Washington returns with his solid jab keeping Wilder at bay. In the fifth round a lead right by Wilder to the chin of Washington drops him. Upon getting up Wilder went after him hurting him causing the referee Mike Griffin to prematurely step in but no complaining from Washington. This writer had Washington ahead 40-36 going into the fifth round.
With the vacant IBF super welterweight title on the line Tony “Superman” Harrison, 24-2 (20), of Detroit, MI, ran out of gas while ahead and got knocked down and couldn’t seem to continue upon getting up giving Jarrett “Swift” Hurd, 20-0 (14), of Accoceek, MD, the title at 2:24 of the ninth round, to become the new champion!
In the opening round with both fighters keeping their left hand low it started as a jabbing match halfway through the round. Hurd has been the aggressor but near the end of the round Harrison landed a double left hook and a bit later a lead right hand to the head of Hurd. In the second round halfway thru after a half round of jabbing both fighters exchanged right hands to the head. Seems that was the only right Hurd threw. He seems reluctant to use it but Harrison is not shy using his. In the third round at the halfway mark Harrison lands a right and a left hook to the head of Hurd who though he seems to be the bigger fighter is doing little more than coming forward. Whenever Hurd gets Harrison in a corner Harrison is very elusive getting out of it. A strong left hook by Harrison to the chin of Hurd rocked him.
In the fourth round it was more of the same with Harrison exchanging jabs but also landing left hooks and rights to the head of Hurd who continues only using a jab. In the fifth round a pair of right hands to the head by Harrison on Hurd seems to have Hurd confused. A right uppercut by Hurd to the chin of Harrison had him hurt just prior to the bell. In the sixth round Harrison keeps trying a chopping right hand as Hurd bends over that isn’t landing much but he continues to throw it. Hurd on the other hand is throwing his right more since the end of the last round. In a close round Hurd may have finally won a round.
In the seventh round Hurd is having a big round landing numerous rights to the head with double and triple shots. Harrison seems to be wearing down. In the eighth round its Harrison back in control with right hands to the head of Hurd. With less than a minute to go Hurd hurts Harrison with a right to the head. In the ninth round Hurd for the first time in the round has both hands in front of his face. Halfway through the round Harrison turns southpaw and lands four unanswered punched to the head of Hurd. A straight right hand by Hurd on the jaw of Harrison drops him. When he gets up he seemed badly hurt and spits out his mouthpiece causing the referee Jim Korb to halt the action causing a lot of confusion. Harrison seemed spent after the stoppage. This writer had Harrison ahead 77-75 going into the ninth.
No. 11 WBC heavyweight Dominic “Trouble” Breazeale, 18-1 (16), Eastvale, CA, came off the canvas and knocked out Poland’s No. 9 IBF and No. 10 WBO contender Izuagbe Ugonoh, 17-1 (14), of Las Vegas, NV, at 0:50 of the fifth round.
In the opening round while the much taller Breazeale came forward Ugonoh would suddenly lash out being effective especially to the body. In the second round Ugonoh continued using double and triple jabs and combinations to the body ending the round with a right to the jaw of Breazeale.
In the third round it was a wild an exciting one as Ugonoh seems to be going for the knockout rocking Breazeale with overhand rights until he leaving himself opened got knocked down by Breazeale. Uugonoh got up and dished out punishment to Breazeale but may have been tiring while Breazeale has a lot of swelling around his left eye.
In the fourth round three straight right hands by Ugonoh to the head of Breazeale dropped him. He got up very shaky. In the fifth round it was Breazeale who dropped the exhausted Ugonoh twice with the last one putting him through the ropes. Referee Jeff Doson had seen enough.
On FS1 Super middleweight No. 13 IBF contender Caleb “Sweet Hands” Plant, 15-0 (10), of Ashland, TN, now Las Vegas, won a lopsided decision over Thomas “Awin” Awimbono, 25-6-1 (21), of GH, and the Bronx, NY, over 10 rounds.
In the opening round it was all Plant dropping Awimbono just prior to the end of
three left hooks and two rights all to the head of Awimbono without return. In the third round with a minute to go Plant landed six unanswered punches to both the body and head. In the fourth round it was another good round for Plant looking to end it but Awimbono returns enough punches to prevent that.
In the fifth round the fans are growing restless with Plant not throwing enough punches to end it. In the sixth round the action picked up with Plant still holding an edge. In the seventh round Caleb landed a dozen punches without return. It was a solid round by Plant. In the eighth round Plant continues to win the rounds but not enough to hurt Awimbono as he did in the first round.
In the ninth round Plant continues to out work Awimbono. In the tenth and final round Awimbono seems content to go the distance. Plant isn’t going for the knockout but the win. Jeff Dodson was the referee.
Judges had it 100-89 twice and 99-90 as did this writer.
Jhon Gemino of the Philippines, 15-8-1 (3), out of L.A., , came off the canvas three times before being stopped by Olympic Silver Medalist “King” Tugstsogt Nyambayer, 8-0 (8), of Mongolia and Carson City, NV, at 1:05 of the tenth and final round.
In the first two rounds it was all Gemino looking like the much stronger landing numerous combinations. In the third round Tug becoming more aggressive landing occasion rights to the head of before landing a lead overhand right to the chin of Gemino dropping him. In the fourth round each boxer took turns landing 3-punch combinations. Tug seems to hold an edge by the end of the round.
In the fifth round both had their moments with Gemino busier but Tug landing more effective punches to the head. In the sixth round Tug drops Gemino landing a right but seemingly pushing him down on his neck. The second knockdown was from a right hand by Tug. In the seventh round Tug seems to be the heavier puncher though having a bad habit of pushing down on the neck of Gemino. In the eighth round there is no quit in Gemino though down three times in the fight. Tug hurts Gemino and several occasions. It was more of the same in the ninth round. In the tenth and final round Tug came out for the knockout throwing punches in bunches until the referee called a halt.