BATYRZHAN JUKEMBAYEV, KELVIN DAVIS AND NAJEE LOPEZ SCORE VICTORIES
Junior welterweight Batyrzhan “777” Jukembayev (21-1, 16KO) cruised to a victory over “The Problem” Mohamed Mimoune (23-5, 4KO) to retain the WBA Continental North American title.
Jukembayev fought beautifully with the jab and used the angles to perfection. The Kazakhstani remained disciplined with the game plan as Mimoune fought behind a high guard and landed the occasional straight left hand.
Trainer Bomac Mcintye, who trains top pound for pound fighter Terence Crawford, told his fighter to throw more combinations. It proved to be sound advice, as 777 rocked Mimoune a few times.
With Hall of Fame Inductee Roy Jones Jr. in his corner, Mimoune came along and began to land sharp counter shots down the stretch. Yet, Jukembayev managed to regain control of the fight with counterpunching and pure boxing ability.
When the final bell sounded, two judges scored it 98-92, with one having it 99-91 in favor of Jukembayev. Regardless of being a solid win, the Kazakhstani’s lack of aggression may have prevented him from getting a knockout.
KELVIN DAVIS PICKS UP LACKLUSTER WIN OVER CLARENCE BOOTH
In tajunior welterweight contest, prospect Kelvin “Night Night” Davis (11-0, 6KO) relentlessly held Clarence Booth (21-9, 13KO) for the victory.
The early rounds saw Davis in full control by fighting behind the jab and using the angles to land the straight left. He went to the body early and took advantage of Booth’s inability to cut off the ring by landing counter shots.
After wrestling each other to the canvas in round five, the referee deducted both fighters a point. Once the action resumed, Booth finally got inside and used roughhouse tactics that made Davis uncomfortable.
The fight was uneventful down the stretch as Night Night had trouble dealing with the veteran’s pressure, held, and moved around the ring until the final bell. Booth may have won the last two or three rounds by applying pressure alone.
Two judges scored it 78-72 and one judge saw it 79-71. These are the types of scorecards that were filled out back at the hotel because there is no way Davis was that dominant. 3Kings Boxing scored it 77-75 for the undefeated prospect, who needs to learn how to deal with pressure fighters.
NAJEE LOPEZ SCORES IMPRESSIVE KNOCKOUT OVER YILDO DEPESTRE
In the light heavyweight division, prospect Najee Lopez (9-0, 8KO) scored the early stoppage over Yildo Depestre (7-1, 5KO) in the third round.
Lopez’s amateur pedigree was on full display over Depestre, who is basically learning on the job. The Puerto Rican came forward on the front foot behind an educated jab that was landing hard shots early and often.
In round one, Lopez was credited with a knockdown after taking advantage of Depestre’s improper foot placement. It was the beginning of the end as he continued to fight well behind the jab, and landied combination punches.
In round three, the undefeated prospect shifted levels and went on an all-out assault by landing a barrage of punches. He landed a succession of brutal right hands that slumped the Cuban over the ropes, forcing the referee to halt the fight.
It was another good showing by Lopez, who continues to improve with every fight.
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