2016 Olympic Gold Medalist, former WBO Featherweight and WBC and WBO Super Featherweight champion Shakur Stevenson in the most boring match this writer has covered in sixteen years he won his third world title defeating Dominican Edwin De Los Santos, for the vacant WBC World Lightweight title on Thursday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
In the co-Main Event WBO World Super Featherweight champion in his sixth defense Emanuel “Vasquero” Navarrete ended in a majority draw against the three-time Olympian and 2016 Gold Medalist Robson “Nino” Conceicao though scoring a pair of knockdowns over 12 rounds.
In the Main Event 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist former WBO Feather and WBC and WBO Super Feather champ southpaw Shakur Stevenson, 21-0 (10), #133.8, of Newark, NJ, defeated southpaw Edwin De Los Santos, 16-2 (14), #134.3, of Santo Domingo, DR, over 12 dull rounds, for the vacant WBC World Lightweight title.
In the first two rounds little happened as Stevenson landed more jabs than De Los Santos. In the third round the fans were calling for some action. De Los Santos fought the entire round without a mouthpiece. In the fourth round what little punches connected came from Stevenson, all jabs.
In the fifth round with a minute remaining De Los Santos landed a rare body shot but maybe enough to win his first round since the former champ Stevenson hardly landed a punch. In the sixth round Stevenson gave up another round taking the round off.
In the seventh round fans may have fallen asleep for they are not whistling or booing halfway through the round. In the eighth round with urging from his trainer Stevenson is starting to throw more jabs.
In the ninth round with neither boxer landing more than five punches per round Stevenson is trying to wake up the fans.
Speculation is Stevenson’s left hand is injured though landing nine punches the most so far in a round, all jabs. In between rounds the corner of De Los Santos is screaming at him to do something.
In the tenth round De Los Santos landed more jabs to take the round. In the eleventh round trying to stay awake I gave the round to Stevenson. There have been no rounds with double figures landed. In the twelfth and final round at the halfway point De Los Santos landed several punches having Stevenson in a corner.
Referee Harvey Dock had little to do and never urged both to start doing something. They should give it a draw since neither deserves to win but Stevenson looks like he won his third title.
Scores were 115-113 and 116-112 twice as did KH.
In the co-Main Event former WBO Junior Featherweight champion and current WBO World Super Feather champ Emanuel “Vasquero” Navarrete, 38-1-1 (31), #130, of San Juan Zitlaltpec, Distrito Federal, MEX, ended in a majority draw with 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist Robson “Nino” Conceicao, 17-2-1 (8), #129.3, of Salvador, Bahia, BRZ, over 12 rounds.
In the first round Navarrete was outworked by Conceicao for the most part until the final minute. In the second round Conceicao finished the stronger of the two in a close round.
In the third round Conceicao made it clear he did enough to take the round. In the fourth rounds final minute Navarrete dropped Conceicao with a left uppercut to the chin for an 8-count from Referee Thomas Taylor. Conceicao managed to barely get to the bell.
In the fifth round Conceicao continued out landing Navarrete though having a cut on the bridge of the nose. In the sixth round Navarrete started chasing Conceicao around the ring landing some good body punches.
In the seventh round a body shot from Navarrete dropped Conceicao for an 8-count from referee Taylor. Conceicao managed to barely get to the bell. In the ninth rounds final seconds a right from Navarrete hurt Conceicao. In the tenth rounds final seconds again Navarrete hurt Conceicao.
In the eleventh rounds final minute a right from Conceicao who is bleeding from the mouth on the shoulder of Navarrete knocked back several steps. In the twelfth and final round a clash of heads caused a small cut on the forehead of Navarrete.
This was the most action of the entire fight in the final minute with body letting it all hang out. Conceicao’s face was badly swelling at the end.
Scores were 114-112 Navarette and 113-113 twice. Navarette 114-112 KH.
Welterweight Brian “The Assassin ll” Norman, Jr., 25-0-1nc (19), #146.4, of Atlanta, GA, easily defeated Quinton “Quick Draw” Randall, 13-1-1 (3), #145.8, of Katy, TX, over 10 dull rounds for the WBO International title.
In the first three rounds Norman outworked a reluctant Randall. In the fourth and fifth rounds Randall doesn’t seem to amount any offense giving Norman another round.
In the sixth round both boxers were bleeding with Norman over the right eyebrow and Randall from the nose. In the ninth round the lack of action continued. In the tenth and final round the fans cheered that it was all over. Referee was Tony Weeks.
Scores were 99-91 twice and 97-93 and 100-90 KH.
Bantamweight Floyd “Cashflow” Diaz, 10-0 (3), #117.7, of Las Vegas, NV, won a split decision over Max Ornelas, 15-2-1 (5), #117.9, of Las Vegas, NV, 10 rounds, scoring a pair of knockdowns for the vacant WBA Youth championship.
In the first round a reluctant Diaz didn’t start any offense until the final minute but too little too late getting outworked by Ornelas. In the second round near the end of the first minute a leaping left hook from Diaz on the chin dropped Ornelas for an 8-count from Referee Raul Caiz, Jr. Ornelas came back well but not enough to recover from the knockdown.
In the third rounds halfway point a solid jab from Diaz on the chin of Ornelas scored a knockdown for an 8-count from referee Caiz, Jr. In the fifth round Ornelas landed several rights causing a bruise under the right eye of Diaz in the final minute.
In the sixth rounds final minute a clash of heads caused a cut on the bridge of the nose of Ornelas who was ahead at the time and recovered to take the round. In the seventh round Diaz seemed to slow down due to fatigue. Ornelas needed the round and got it.
In the eighth and final round with a minute remaining another clash of heads dropped Diaz but neither were cut. Ornelas needed the round trying to overcome a pair of knockdowns.
Scores were 77-73 Diaz, 76-74 Ornelas and 78-72 Diaz and 75-75 KH.
Middleweight 2020 Olympian Troy “The Transformer” Isley, 11-0 (4), #159.7, of Alexandria, VA, won a disputed decision over southpaw Vladimir Hernandez, 14-6 (6), #156.8, of Ciudad Lerdo, Durango, MEX, over 8 rounds.
In the first round southpaw Hernandez kept coming forward using an effective jab. In the final seconds Isley landed a solid right to the chin getting the attention of Hernandez. In the second round it was more of the same with Hernandez outworking Isley in another close round.
In the third round Hernandez had Isley against the ropes halfway through the round until a right counter uppercut from Isley on the chin backed Hernandez back several steps. In the fourth rounds final minute Hernandez was cut on the right eyebrow from an Isley left hook.
In the fifth round Hernandez came back well keeping Isley back against the ropes out landing him. In the sixth round Hernandez’s cut re-opened but it didn’t slow him down at all as he had exposed Isley up to this point.
In the seventh round Isley started going to the body and continued for the entire round, but it may be too late in the fight. In the eighth and final round Isley picked up with going to the body until the final minute when Hernandez took over the round landing small uppercuts to the chin of Isley.
Scores were 77-75 for all but KH 78-72 Hernandez.
The Referee was Celestino Ruiz.
Super Middleweight Giovanni Sarchioto, 9-0 (8), #167, of Anzio, Lanzio, IT, stopped southpaw Lucas de Abreu, 14-5 (11), #166.3, of Sao Paulo, BRZ, at 2:06 of the third or a scheduled 6 rounds, scoring a pair of knockdowns.
In the first round southpaw Abreu boxed well until the final fifteen seconds when a lead right from Sarchioto on the chin rocked Abreu.
In the third round Abreu turned orthodox and halfway through the round a left hook after several rights from Sarchioto on the chin and down went Abreu taking an 8-count from referee Celestino Ruiz. Sarchioto jumped on him landing a pair of rights on the chin and down again went Abreu as referee Ruiz waved it off.
In an impressive performance Lightweight 2020 Youth champion southpaw Abdullah Mason, 11-0 (9), #134.4, of Cleveland, OH, stopped Jose Cardenas, 7-2-1nc (5), #134.6, of Laredo, TX, at 1:55 of the second round of a scheduled 6 rounds.
In the first round with a minute remaining the slick southpaw Mason landed a right and left combination on the chin of Cardenas and down he went for an 8-count from Referee Tony Weeks. In the second round a left that was followed by a jab from Mason landed on the chin of Cardenas and down he went with referee Weeks not giving a count waving it off as Cardenas lay there.
Lightweight Emiliano Vargas, 8-0 (7), #135.6, of Las Vegas, NV, impressed stopping Brandon Mendoza, 6-3 (6), #134.9, of Panorama City, CA, at 0:57 of the second round of a scheduled 6 rounds.
In the first round Vargas son of former champ Fernando Vargas with a little over a minute remaining a chopping second right on the chin of Mendoza dropped him and referee Harvey Dock gave him an 8-count. Seconds later Vargas went on the attack dropping Mendoza again with a chopping right as his glove touched the canvas but referee Dock didn’t count it as a knockdown.
In the second round Vargas landed a right on the chin dropping Mendoza who trying to get up had no control of his legs as referee Dock waved it off.
Heavyweight southpaw Jackson “White Chocolate” Murray, 6-0 (4), #230.7, of Sydney, New South Wales, AUST, defeated Steven Torres, 6-1-1 (6), #240.7, of Reading, PA, over 6 rounds scoring a knockdown.
In the first and second rounds Torres followed southpaw Murray around the ring for the most part as Murray landed jabs and Torres little in return. In the third round Torres hurt Murray who backpedaled landing some jabs to get through the round. Murray hit Torres behind the head and Referee Thomas Taylor counted it as a knockdown. In the sixth and final round Murray landed a solid right on the chin of Torres with a minute remaining hurting him. It was a big round for Murray.
Scores were 60-53 by all and KH.
Super Lightweight Hugo “The Fresh Prince of Monaco” Micallef, 9-0 (2), #142.7, of Monte Carlo, Monaco, stopped Sergio Odabai, 6-2-1 (3), #141.7, of Vienna, AUS, after four rounds of a scheduled 6 rounds.
In the first round with a minute remaining Micallef landed a right uppercut that stunned Odabai. In the final twenty seconds Micallef landed a three punch combination to the chin of Odabai. In the third round Micallef landed half a dozen punches knocking out the mouthpiece of Odabai. Every time Micallef threw his right Odabai was getting hit on the chin. He did landed some punches in this round but was overwhelmed by Micallef.
In the fourth round after twenty seconds Odabai landed a solid left hook on the chin of Micallef. He did it again in the final minute as Micallef countered with a double jab in a close round. In between rounds the corner of Odabai called a halt for Referee Raul Caiz, Jr. to call a halt.