By Brad Marchetti: In a WBC super lightweight title eliminator Sergey ” The Samurai” Lipinets, 17-2-1, 13 KO’s, chopped up Omar Figueroa Jr., 28-3-1, 19 KO’s, and left pieces of his anatomy all over the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, FL in an 8th round TKO victory. In the crossroads bout between former champions, the 3 to 1 betting favorite Lipinets dismantled the hittable Figueroa with debilitating body shots and laser beams to the skull before Figueroa’s corner threw in the towel after the 8th round.
After a 30-month stint at welterweight, the 33-year-old Lipinets looked formidable returning back into his Jr. Welterweight frame, appearing to be at least a weight class larger than Figueroa. The always aggressive “Panterita” Figueroa came out blazing rocking the Russian with a left hand in the 1st frame “I did well considering that he caught me with a good punch early on,” said Lipinets.
The first round would be the only round Figueroa would win with Lipinets dropping his opponent in the 2nd with a vicious counter-right cross that seemed to discombobulate Omar for the remainder of the bout. By the end of the 8th round, Lipinets was hitting Figueroa with everything but the ring post before Omar’s father and trainer wisely threw in the towel. Scores at the time of stoppage read: 80-71, 80-71, and 79-72 all for Lipinets.
The 32-year old Figueroa stated that he will most likely retire after his disappointing performance but it should be noted that his focus could have been elsewhere against Lipinets. “My daughter was born earlier today,” said Figueroa. If the warrior Figueroa decides to retire hats off to the former champion for his entertaining brawls and honesty about mental health issues outside the ropes.
Punch stat numbers were indicative of the one-sided beatdown in the ring with Lipinets outlanding Figueroa 172-44. The fighters landed 12 jabs combined which is most likely a punch stat record for an 8-round bout. Another record for the punch stat files is Figueroa’s dismal 9.3% of punches landed, earning him the dubious distinction of being the most inaccurate puncher of all time.
Showtime Boxing Report Cards:
Sergey Lipitnets vs Omar Figueroa Jr. W.B.C. Super Lightweight Title Eliminator
Significance: B
Outcome: B-
Sergey Lipinets: B+
Omar Figueroa Jr.: C
Albert Puello vs Batyr Akhmedov W.B.A Super Lightweight Championship
Significance: B+
Outcome: B
Albert Puello: B
Batyr Akhmedov: B
Result: Puello via split decision
Scores: Puello 117-111 twice Akhmedov 115-113
Notes: The southpaw Puello, 21-0, 11 KO’s, makes history by becoming the first Dominican to pick up a title strap at 140 Lbs. “This win means a lot to me. This is a big thing for us Dominicans because my friend Hector Garcia and I are bringing two titles back home,” said Puello. I scored the fight a draw 114-114 with Akhmedov’s, 9-2, 8 KO’s, pressure, and overhand rights matching the southpaw Puello’s mid-range hooks and uppercuts. Final punch stats had Akhmedov outlanding Puello 207-191.
Roger Gutierrez vs Hector Garcia W.B.A Super Featherweight Championship
Significance: B+
Outcome: B-
Roger Gutierrez: B-
Hector Garcia: B
Result: Garcia via unanimous decision
Scores: Garcia 118-110, 117-111 twice
Notes: The Dominican southpaw Garcia, 16-0, 10 KO’s, turned in a workmanlike performance against the Venezuelan, Gutierrez, 26-4, 20 KO’s, who was game in a fight that was closer than the scorecards indicated. Final punch stats had the newly crowned champion Garcia outlanding Gutierrez 156-116 on a huge night for Dominican boxing.
Brandun Lee vs Will Madera 10-Round Super Lightweight
Significance: B
Outcome: B
Brandun Lee: B
Will Madera.: B-
Result: Lee via unanimous decision
Scores: Lee 98-91 x3
Notes: While it may be unpopular amongst boxing media consensus, I actually bumped up Lee’s rating from a (B-) fighter to a (B) level fighter after responding well to a vicious knockdown that dropped him on his face in the 3rd frame. Final punch stats had the 23-year-old super prospect Lee, 26-0, 22 KO’s outlanding the hard-hitting New Yorker Will Madera, 17-2-3, 10 KO’s, 168-127.