WILDER DESTROYS BREAZEALE IN ONE ROUND
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 19 May 2019
Brooklyn, NY - Deontay Wilder was rebuked by the World Boxing Council (WBC), the media and some fighters for his pre-fight comments about ?killing? Dominic Breazeale in the ring in their scheduled heavyweight championship match at the Barclays Center in New York.
On Saturday, he backed up his chilling remark with an equally chilling knockout of Breazeale in the first round of their bout which was beamed nationwide via Showtime and witnessed by a shocked but cheering audience of 13,181.
Wilder started strong and aggressive against his challenger. He unleashed powerful right straights that pushed back Breazeale to a corner early.
Breazeale responded with a right of his own to momentarily thwart Wilder?s advances but that was only temporary as a powerful right hand from the unbeaten and reigning champion landed squarely on his jaw after the two minute mark of Round 1.
Breazeale fell instantly after the blow and was counted out by Referee Harvey Dock amidst the deafening cheers and jubilation that erupted in the venue.
The end for Breazeale came with only 137 seconds from the opening bell. He got up from Wilder?s killer punch but it was already late as Dock already finished his count. Breazeale was also in no condition to continue even if he beat the count as he was wobbling and struggling to make it upright.
Wilder retained his title belt with the rousing KO five months after his controversial Split Draw match against Tyson Fury in Las Vegas last December.
"Everything just came out of me tonight. I know it?s been a big build up. There?s been a lot of animosity and a lot of words that were said and it just came out of me tonight. That?s what makes boxing so great.? Wilder stated.
With regards to the Fury rematch, Wilder was optimistic that their second bout will happen, despite Fury?s recent signing with Top Rank Boxing.
?The rematch will happen, like all these other fights will happen. The great thing is all these fights are in discussion. The big fights will happen. I just want you to have patience.?
The other big fight is that against unified champ, Anthony Joshua of England who will make his New York debut in two weeks at Madison Square Garden.
RUSSELL JR. HALTS MARTINEZ IN 5
World Boxing Council (WBC) Featherweight champion, Gary Russell Jr. (29-1, 17 KOs) successfully defended his belt with a stoppage of Spanish challenger, Kiko Martinez (39-8-2, 28 KOs).
The champ dominated from the opening bell with fast combos and crisp punching against his opponent. In the 2nd, Russell Jr. opened a cut above the left eye of Martinez which caused early trouble for the challenger.
The Spaniard pressed Russell Jr, but the defending champ was wily and has a steady jab and a ready left hand to score and stop Martinez? advances.
The end came in the final seconds of the 5th, when Referee Ricky Gonzales stopped the action to have the ringside physician examined Martinez who was bleeding profusely from the cut.
The physician advised Gonzales to end the bout which he did at the 2:52 mark of the same round.
?I did pretty well. We stayed behind the jab and he couldn?t get past it. We knew that intellect over athleticism would get it done.? said Russell Jr.
After his victory, Russell Jr. asked for a unification fight against fellow champ, Leo Santa Cruz of the World Boxing Association (WBA).
?We want Leo Santa Cruz.We want to make this fight happen. I would love for that fight to happen this year. Let?s make it happen.?
HERALDEZ VS. MENDEZ ENDS IN DRAW
A ten-round Super Lightweight contest between Juan Heraldez (16-0, 10 KOs) of Las Vegas and former world champion (IBF super featherweight) Argenis Mendez (25-5-2, 1 ND, 12 KOs) of the Dominican Republic launched the Showtime broadcast at the Barclays.
Both fighters fought a tactical contest that ended in a Majority Draw tally in the score cards of the three judges at ringside.
After an uninspiring first four rounds, action picked up in the 5th when Mendez bloodied Heraldez?nose with his right.
Mendez scored an eye-catching right in the 8th but Heraldez replied with an even stronger right hook that stunned Mendez. The unbeaten Heraldez did not capitalize after that big punch and elected to jab and box to finish the round.
Another big right for Heraldez found its mark in the 9th round but he was unable to pour other meaningful punches against his foe who has always an answer for him.
Heraldez decided to boxed in the final round as Mendez picked up the pace in the final minute of the fight. The former champ landed another successful right after a body attack to close the round.
Scores were a favorable 97-93 for Mendez from Judy Lederman and two even scores of 95-95 by John Basile and Kevin Morgan.
You can reach the writer at rrmaze24@aol.com and @Freemazon910 on Twitter.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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