Undercard results for Canelo vs. Fielding: Katie Taylor and Ryan Garcia impressive in their MSG debut
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 16 Dec 2018
Ryan Garcia drops Braulio Rodriguez.
ALI REBUFFS HERRERA
NEW YORK -- In a battle of former world champions, Sadam Ali (26-2, 14 KOs) defeated
Mauricio Herrera (24-7, 7 KOs) via points in the site of the biggest win of his career.
Ali, who won the WBO light middleweight strap with an upset of Miguel Cotto last year here at The Garden, relied on his jab to keep Herrera, a former lightweight belt holder at the losing end of a ten-round welterweight bout.
The former champ from Brooklyn also utilized good movement inside the ring furthering Herrera's chances of mounting any successful attack.
With the UD victory, Ali rebounded from a bad trouncing in his last fight where he lost his 154 pound title to Jaime Mungia in Verona, New York last May.
Scores were 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92 for Ali.
GARCIA BLASTS RODRIGUEZ IN 5
Rising star Ryan Garcia connects with a right at Braulio Rodriguez.
Unbeaten 20 year old prospect Ryan Garcia (16-0, 13 KOs) knocks out Braulio Rodriguez (19-3, 17 KOs) in the 5th round of a scheduled ten-round lightweight contest.
Garcia opened the fight with a strong left hook in the opening round that floored a dumbfounded Rodriguez. He was then victimized by multiple low blows from Rodriguez who elected to showboat instead of putting a meaningful challenge.
Referee Ron Lipton deducted a point off Rodriguez in the 3rd round after repeated low blows putting him behind in points against the younger Garcia.
But the scorecards will not be a factor as Garcia sent Rodriguez to the floor and through the ropes, again with another huge left hook- that put a stop on Rodriguez's clowning and antics.
Rodriguez tried to get on his feet after the knockdown but he was counted out by Lipton giving Garcia his 17th win and 14th knockout in his debut at The Garden.
TAYLOR SHUTS DOWN WAHLSTROM TO REMAIN CHAMP
Katie Taylor (L) in action against Eva Wahlstrom.
Katie Taylor (11-0, 5 KOs) retained her twin world titles after she convincingly defeated Eva Wahlstrom (22-0-1, 3 KOs) via Unanimous Decision.
Taylor, holder of the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association lightweight belts stunned Wahlstrom with her quickness and accuracy. Her combos were on-point and she maintained that sharpness in the course of this
ten-round title defense.
Popular in her country of Ireland, the Olympic gold medalist from Bray scored a shutout card of 100-90 in all three judges at ringside and cemented her status as one of Ireland's finest all-around fighter and one of the best in women's boxing.
After her victory, Taylor was asked on who she wanted to fight next and she named fellow champ, World Boxing Organization lightweight titleholder, Amanda Serrano.
"The goal is to be the undisputed lightweight champion of the world. Obviously one of the biggest fighters out there is Amanda Serrano, and that's a huge, huge fight. " said Taylor who wowed the audience in her first fight at The Mecca of Boxing.
ROACH ROUTS MERCADO
Lamont Roach Jr (L) connects at Alberto Mercado.
Lamont Roach Jr. (17-0-1, 7 KOs) retained his World Boxing Organization ( WBO) International Super Featherweight belt with a convincing Unanimous Decision nod over
Alberto Mercado ( 15-1-1, 3 KOs).
Roach was quick to counter against Mercado's aggression , his hooks scored past Mercado's initial attacks and he out-boxed him with ease throughout the fight.
Mercado was never a threat to Roach Jr. except in the 10th and final salvo, where he successfully pressured Roach and hit him with big shots that Roach endured.
Roach finished the 10th round unscathed and was given the victory via scores of 99-91, 97-93 and 98-92.
ULYSSE JR. DECISIONS BECERRA
An even matchup on paper between two super lightweights, Yves Ulysse Jr. (16-1, 9 KOs) and Maximiliano Becerra (16-2-2, 8 KOs) turned out to be an easy night of work for the former.
Ulysse scored two knockdowns at the 6th and 7th rounds and cruised to a secured win in the 8th and final round against Becerra who was out-boxed and out-punched in the fight.
Scores were 79-71, 78-72, 78-72 to Ullyse who made the trip from across the border of Montreal, Canada.
AKKAWY HALTS FONSECA
The battle of Super Middleweights between Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Michael 'Rocky' Fielding at the famed Madison Square Garden in New York opened with an eight-round fight in the same weight class.
Australian Bilal Akkawy (18-0-1, 14 KOs) stopped Victor Fonseca (17-8-1, 14 KOs) of Mexico at the 2:53 mark of the 7th round with a barrage of punches from Akkawy that overwhelmed Fonseca who was saved from the knockdown by the ropes in the said round.
Referee Steve Willis stopped the fight after the Mexican fighter was hurt from a dominant and aggressive 7th round from Akkawy who mixed body and head shots en-router to remaining unbeaten at 19-0.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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