Arnold Barboza Jr beats Jack Catterall in a Manchester split
Plus, Keyshawn blasts away Berinchyk and Duarte stops Madueno
Moments after recording the biggest win of his 32-fight career, a split decision points verdict over Jack Catterall, California 140-pounder Arnold Barboza Jr credited the “best promoter in boxing”. Eddie Hearn’s ears must’ve pricked up for a split second.
Eddie did get a courtesy mention soon after for putting on the Co-op Live Arena main event, but the initial shout-out went to Oscar De La Hoya, who had rescued Barboza Jr from a managerial malaise over at Top Rank and propelled him into the title mix.
Full credit to Barboza Jr., who backed himself, packed his bags, travelled across the ocean, and delivered the goods. Not everyone thought the visitor had done enough. One judge (the UK’s Marcus McDonnell) scored it 115-113 to Catterall. Overruled by a couple of 115-113 verdicts in favour of Barboza Jr.
The winner picked up the WBO Interim super-lightweight title (vacant) and, more importantly, put himself in pole position to tackle full champion Teofimo Lopez, who has 180 days to defend the belt or he’ll be stripped.
Just months after defeating Jose Ramirez over 10 rounds in Saudi Arabia, Barboza Jr outdid himself with his first 12-rounder, using activity and greater punch variety to outwork a negative and passive Catterall. The Chorley man will once again go away feeling like he could’ve done more.
On the Manchester undercard, Reece Bellotti ended his beef with Michael Gomez Jr emphatically, forcing a corner retirement after 10 rounds. Gomez Jr was angered by the call, but he had been dropped twice and beaten up by heavy-handed Bellotti.
Pat McCormack dropped Robbie Davies Jr three times en route to a sixth-round corner retirement as Davies Jr’s trainer, Anthony Crolla, had seen enough.
James ‘Jazza’ Dickens outboxed Zelfa Barrett over 10 rounds. The Liverpool veteran was too sharp for a lacklustre Barrett, who seemed a little gunshy.
Keyshawn Davis batters Berinchyk in four rounds
Keyshawn Davis announced himself as one of the key players in the lightweight division and beyond by battering WBO champion Denys Berinchyk in four rounds.
The New York main event had taken an ugly turn during the week when a box of bananas and watermelons was left outside Davis’ hotel room.
This incident was similar to Sandy Ryan getting pelted with paint before her bout with Mikaela Mayer last September. Both happened in New York, and both were promoted by Top Rank. Probably coincidental, or maybe there’s a rogue employee somewhere looking for a job as a pre-fight hypeman.
Regardless, fights are fought in the ring (there’s some original thinking for you), and Davis was too good. Slicing the Ukrainian up to the body, taking his title by force. Keyshawn and Abdullah Mason (who also won in four rounds on the undercard) could build into one for the future.
Supporting the Keyshawn crowning, Puerto Rican rising star Xander Zayas pounded Slawa Spomer to a ninth-round stoppage.
Vito Mielnicki Jr and Ireland’s Connor Coyle boxed to a majority draw after 10 rounds of high-intensity middleweight action.
Abdullah Mason continued his impressive progression by dropping Manuel Jaimes numerous times on the way to a fourth-round KO.
Jared Anderson struggled over 10 rounds in his first outing after the Martin Bakole beating, winning wide but failing to impress against Greece’s Marios Kollias.
Oscar Duarte becomes the first man to stop Miguel Madueno
Oscar Duarte was supposed to fight Regis Prograis in Anaheim on Saturday evening. When veteran Prograis got injured, in stepped Miguel Madueno.
Stylistically, that meant more of a war and the pair got stuck in for six rounds before Duarte felt Madueno weakening and went for the finish in round seven. Madueno had never been stopped before and travelled 10 rounds with Keyshawn Davis in his previous contest.
Promoter Oscar De La Hoya added: “Duarte is now the mix with everybody: Barboza, Sims, Keyshawn, every world title out there. At 140, Oscar is ready for that world title.”
Image Credits: BBC Sport, Top Rank Promotional, Golden Boy Promotional.
About Steve…
Current existence: Online editor at Boxing News Magazine.
Previous lives: Author (8 books), podcaster (500+ eps), scriptwriter for Motivedia channel, newspaper journalist, copywriter & educator.
Contact: stevenwellings1982@gmail.com