IBF Junior Welterweight champion Subriel Matías, known for his ferocious fighting style, made quick work of Shohjahon Ergashev in a brutal showdown. Ergashev, visibly outmatched and overwhelmed, retired before the sixth round, marking yet another stoppage victory for Matías, who now boasts a 20-1 record with 20 KOs. Ergashev’s record took a hit, dropping to 23-1, 20 KOs.
Matías, unfazed by Ergashev’s initial attacks, confidently stated, “When I started feeling [Ergashev’s] punches in the first round, I knew he didn’t have the power to knock me out. That’s when I started attacking.” He openly challenged other prominent fighters in the division to face him.
Ergashev, hindered by pain, admitted his inability to move effectively, leading to his downfall. Matías’ victory echoed his previous win against Jeremias Ponce, where he turned the tide after absorbing heavy punishment. Ergashev started strong but was soon overpowered by Matías’ relentless assault. The stats spoke volumes: Matías connected 108 of 317 total punches (34%) while Ergashev managed only 44 of 235 (19%), with Matías landing a combination of power punches and jabs to dominate the fight.
Jermall Charlo’s long-awaited return to the ring after a staggering 29 months away was anything but ordinary, as he bulldozed through José Benavídez Jr., the elder sibling of David Benavídez, in a 10-round skirmish that was more of a one-sided display than a competitive bout. Charlo, who proudly holds the WBC middleweight title, towered over Benavídez, utilizing his reach with a jab that felt more like a weapon and punishing right hands. The result? An uncontestable wide decision for Charlo, marked by scores of 100-90, 99-91, and 98-92. Charlo’s record now gleams at 33-0 with 22 KOs, leaving Benavídez trailing at 28-3-1 with 19 KOs. The weigh-in before the clash revealed a significant weight difference, with Charlo at 166.4 pounds and Benavídez at 161.2 pounds, raising eyebrows but somehow, the fight went on. Charlo’s jab connected 116 times out of 334 throws, a 35% success rate, and he landed 127 out of 279 power punches, showcasing a 46% hit rate.
Charlo didn’t mince words post-fight, declaring, “I’ll be back stronger, just know that.” He talked about overcoming personal and professional hurdles, thanking Al Haymon and reflecting on his conviction that he can conquer any obstacle.
Benavídez, despite a commendable chin and history, including a welterweight title fight against Terence Crawford and a notable amateur career, was visibly outclassed by Charlo. After an initial struggle in the first round, Charlo swiftly seized control, demonstrating why he is one of the division’s most formidable and entertaining fighters.
Benavídez’s response to the defeat was telling: “He’s a good fighter, I’m not going to make any excuses. I came to fight.” He questioned the judges’ scoring, implying that the fight was closer than it appeared, and subtly hinted at the potential impact of Charlo’s weight advantage.
The fight’s narrative shifted when Charlo, initially sluggish due to his hiatus, adjusted and started to dominate. His right uppercut in the second round was just a preview of the onslaught that followed, culminating in the tenth round where Charlo sealed his dominance, with both fighters eventually burying the hatchet post-fight.
Lamont Roach grabbed the WBA Super Featherweight Title from Héctor García. This was his second shot at a belt, and boy, did he make it count. The judges had it 116-111, 114-113, and 113-114 – a real nail-biter. But the real game-changer was in the 12th round when Roach landed this epic left hook on García, knocking him down for the second time in his career. That move was the difference-maker, stopping us from ending up with a split-draw.
Roach was pumped, saying he’s been waiting to hear “And the new” for ages. He felt like the first time around, he was just a kid at 24, but now he’s got the seasoning to take on anyone. He’s confident no one can beat him in his current form.
About that winning moment, Roach said they’ve been perfecting that hook for a long time. He’s aiming to prove he’s the best in the 130 division and is ready to take on any and all challengers.
Remember Roach’s first title attempt in 2019 against Jamel Herring? Didn’t go his way, but this time, he nailed it. García (16-2, 10 KOs), on his first defense since moving up in weight and that defeat to Gervonta Davis, couldn’t keep his title.
Most of the fight was this tactical game of cat and mouse. Things really heated up in the 11th round when Roach cornered García with a solid right hand and followed it up with an uppercut that really shook García. According to CompuBox, Roach landed 118 out of 490 punches, a 29% connect rate, which was better than García’s 93 out of 468 (20%). Plus, Roach led in power punches and jabs.
Earlier in the day, streamed on SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube and SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook, Michel Rivera (25-1, 14 KOs) bagged a big win in his career. He outclassed former world champ Sergey Lipinets (17-3-1, 13 KOs) in a super lightweight 10-rounder, scoring 97-93, 97-93, and 96-94. Rivera, in his first 140 fight, showed some slick moves, totally outpacing Lipinets.
And let’s not forget about Vito Mielnicki Jr. This 21-year-old powerhouse, with Ronnie Shields in his corner, absolutely demolished Alexis Salazar. Mielnicki dropped Salazar three times in the first round alone, and the ref had to call it quits at 2:27. Mielnicki’s record is now an impressive 16-1 with 11 knockouts, while Salazar, who just couldn’t handle the heat, drops to 25-6 with 10 KOs.