By Ken Hissner: Before a sell-out crowd of 4,900 at the Armory, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Saturday over ShoBox and Premier Boxing Champions Tom Brown (TGB Promotions), Sampson Lewkowicz (Sampson Boxing), Leon Margules (Warriors Boxing), Juan Ivan Orengo (Fresh Productions), presented in the Main Event IBF No. 2 contender Subriel “El Orgullo de Maternillo” Matias of Puerto Rico stopping IBF No. 1 contender Jeremias “Jere” Ponce of Argentina after five rounds of action for the vacant IBF World Super Lightweight title.
In the Main Event Subriel “El Orgullo ode Maternillo” Matias, 18-1 (18), #139 ¼, of Fajardo, PR, Jeremias “Jere” Ponce, 30-0 (20), #139 ½, of Jose Marmol, Buenos Aires, ARG, 12 rounds for the vacant IBF World Super Lightweight title.
In the first round it was all Ponce landing punch after punch with little return from Matias. In the second round Matias came back well hurting Ponce in the final seconds with a left to the chin. In the third round Matias seemed to have an edge with the final seconds having both fighters throwing punches at the bell with a Ponce left hook to the chin of Matias.
In the fourth round Ponce worked the body and Matias the head. In the fifth round the action continued when a left to the solar plexus from Matias dropped Ponce in the final twenty seconds for an 8-count from Referee Mark Nelson. The corner of Ponce would not allow him to come out for the sixth round.
Super Lightweight southpaw Elvis “Dominican Kid” Rodriguez, 14-1-1 (12), #139 ¾, of Santo Domingo, DR, and L.A., CA, won a majority decision over Joseph “Blessed Hands” Adorno, 17-2-2 (14), #140, of Allentown, PA, over 10 dull rounds.
In the first four rounds there was little action other than jabbing each taking a round. The smaller Adorno coming up from lightweight didn’t have the power to hurt Rodriguez who was coming back after almost a year.
In the fifth round outside of Rodriguez landing a right hook to the chin the lack of action continued. In the sixth round what looked like Adorno landing a left hook dropped Rodriguez halfway through the ropes but Referee Jon Schorle ruled a slip.
In the seventh round Rodriguez landed a right hook on the chin rocked Adorno who was falling to the canvas when Rodriguez followed with three more punches while the referee failed to call a knockdown quick enough then issued an 8-count halfway through the round.
In the ninth round Rodriguez continued to outland Adorno who uses his jab and an occasional right to the body. In the tenth and final rounds final seconds Adorno slipped down in the corner and referee
Schorle ruled a knockdown.
Scores were 94-94, 95-93 and 97-91 with this writer 98-90.
In the co-feature former WBA Interim Welterweight champ Jamal “Shango” James, 28-2 (12), #146 ¾, of Minneapolis, MN, defeated 2012 Olympian southpaw Alberto “Beto” Palmetta, 18-2 , of Bueno Aires, ARG, and West Palm Beach, FL, over 10 rounds.
In the first two rounds the shorter Palmetta kept coming forward as James coming off a stoppage loss and sixteen months of inactivity countered him well. In the third round Palmetta did enough to take a close round.
In the fourth round James landed a 3-punch combination getting the attention of Palmetta midway through the round. In the fifth and sixth rounds James kept Palmetta at bay with his reach advantage against the shorter ever coming forward Palmetta.
In the seventh round a fight broke out with first James on the attack and then Palmetta. In the eighth round though having an edge James seemed to be tiring after a long layoff and suffering Covid three times.
Halfway through the ninth round both fighters scored a flurry of punches. Palmetta may have pulled out the round. In the tenth and final round both fighters gave it all they had as the hometown crowd cheered James on.
Scores were 99-91, 98-92 twice as did this writer. Referee was Ernie Sharif.
Welterweight Kudratillo “The Punisher” Abdukakhorov, 18-2 (10), #146, of UZB and Kuala Lumper, Malaysia, lost to Ve Shawn Owens, 14-3 (12), #147, of Minneapolis, MN, over 10 rounds.
Scores were 98-92, 99-91 and 97-93. Referee Earnie Sharif.
Welterweight Willie Jones, 9-2 (6), #146 ¾, of Burlington, NC, knocked out Derrick “Diesel” Jackson, 10-1 (5), #149, of Orlando, FL, at 1:40 of the first round of a scheduled 8. Referee Mark Nelson.
Ring Announcer Jimmy Lennon, Jr.