SPORTS SHORTS 9: 20 IN 2020 (MAJOR WORLD TITLE FIGHTS) PART 2
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 30 Dec 2020
October 31: Naoya Inoue beat Jason Moloney by seventh-round knockout for the WBA & IBF bantamweight titles at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. The undefeated Japanese superstar floored Moloney of Mitcham, Victoria, Australia with a thundering punch near the end of the seventh round to retain both belts. The 27-year-old Inoue of Zama, Kanagawa, Japan landed a vicious straight right that buckled the 29-year-old Moloney’s knees and the Australian was unable to beat the count. Inoue scored two knockdowns and improved to a perfect 20-0 with 17 knockouts while Moloney dropped to 21-2 with 18 KOs.
* * *
October 31: Gervonta Davis defeated Leo Santa Cruz by sixth-round knockout for the WBA 'super' super-featherweight title, and WBA lightweight title at the Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, United States. The 26-year-old Davis delivered a Knockout of the Year candidate over four-division world champion Leo Santa Cruz, 32, in the most significant fight of his career. It was the first major boxing event with fans in attendance since COVID-19 stopped sports in March with a crowd of 9,024. It was both fighters’ pay-per-view main event debut, and Davis (24-0, 23 KOs) of Baltimore, Maryland, United States and Santa Cruz (37-2-1, 19 KOs) of Huetamo, Michoacán, Mexico, showcased an all-action packed duel that made the fans stand on their feet from the opening round to the finish.
* * *
November 7: Devin Haney beat Yuriorkis Gamboa by unanimous decision for the WBC lightweight title at the Seminole Hard Rock, Holywood, Florida, United States. Haney didn't get the knockout victory, he dominated Gamboa up all night with crisp shots, taking away any momentum. Two of the three judges scored the fight a shutout, 120-107, while the other judge scored it 118-109. Haney (25-0, 15 KOs), aged 22, of San Francisco, California, U.S. outlanded Gamboa in every round of the fight. Gamboa, 38, of Guantanamo, Cuba actually threw 472 total punches, 71 more than Haney with 401, according to CompuBox stats, but Haney had 49 more than Gamboa in total punches landed at 133-84.
* * *
November 14: Katie Taylor beat Miriam Gutierrez by unanimous decision for the WBC, IBF, WBO and WBA lightweight titles at the Wembley Arena, London, England. Taylor, 34, of Bray, Ireland simply outclassed Gutierrez, 37, of Madrid, Spain with her world-class fighting. The undisputed world lightweight champion defended her crown by unanimous decision demolition of Gutierrez 100-89, 100-90 and 99-91, improving her record to 17-0 with 6 KOs. From the opening bell, Taylor used ferocious flurries of punches, dropping Gutierrez at the fourth round with a vicious left hook to the jaw. Gutierrez survived the round and the fight, but fell to 13-1 with 5 KOs.
* * *
November 14: Terence Crawford demolished Kell Brook by fourth-round stoppage for the WBO welterweight title at the Top Rank Bubble, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Crawford (37-0, 28 KOs) scored a devastating knockout of Brook (39-3, 27 KOs) at the 1:14 mark of the fourth round inside the MGM Grand. Crawford, 33, of Omaha, Nebraska, United States, was patiently stalking Brook, 34, of Sheffield, United Kingdom, in the first three rounds. When the fourth round came, Crawford nearly pummelled Brook through the ropes with a quick right hand. The referee gave Brook a chance to continue fighting. Crawford again bombed Brook into the ropes with a powerful right hook, which forced the referee to stop the bout. According to Compubox, Crawford landed 36 of 111 punches thrown, compared to 26 of 109 for Brook.
* * *
December 4: Billy Joe Saunders won over Martin Murray on points for the WBO super-middleweight world title at the Wembley Arena, London. Saunders (30-0, 14 KOs) won with scores of 118-110, 120-109, and 120-109. Saunders of Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom, started his dominance by throwing jabs at will to keep Murray of St. Helens, Merseyside, England at a distance. In the fourth round, Saunders landed power shots, including a right hook that shook Murray and downed him to a knee. But the referee ruled it a slip. The 31-year-old Saunders was in complete control of fight from start to end. Murray (39-6-1, 17 KOs), aged 38, failed in a world title fight for the fifth time.
* * *
December 5: Errol Spence beat Danny Garcia on points for the WBC & IBF welterweight titles at the AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, United States. Spence, 30, of Long Island, New York, had no problems against Garcia, 32, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and won by unanimous decision, 116-112, 116-112, 117-111. Spence was in top condition as a high rated fighter, as he insisted he was still the same fighter even if he met a severe car accident nearly 14 months ago. Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) used his jab consistently during the entire fight and Garcia (36-3, 21 KOs), who used his trademark counterpunching style of his career. According to CompuBox stats, Spence's jabs were 419 of his 707 total punches. Spence landed 187 of 707 total punches thrown, and Garcia landed 117 of 700.
* * *
December 12: Anthony Joshua stopped Kubrat Pulev by ninth-round knockout for the IBF, WBA & WBO world heavyweight titles at the Wembley Arena, London. Joshua, 31, of Watford, United Kingdom, turned to more aggressive fighting in the third round and had Pulev, 39, of Sofia, Bulgaria received a standing count when he turned his back on the British champ. Joshua (24-1, 22 KOs) then went for the knockout and floored Pulev (28-2, 14 KOs) down with an uppercut before the round ended. Pulev survived until the bell rang. Despite the two knockdowns, the fight continued until the ninth round, where Joshua knocked the Bulgarian down for a third time with a flurry of uppercuts. Pulev got up to continue fighting, and he was again hit with a strong right hand that knocked him out, giving Joshua the win.
* * *
December 18: Gennady Golovkin stopped Kamil Szeremeta by seventh-round technical knockout for the IBF world middleweight title at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida, United States. Golovkin, already aged 38, dropped the 31-year-old Kamil Szeremeta four times en route to a seventh-round stoppage to retain his title. Golovkin (41-1-1, 36 KOs) of Karagandy, Kazakhstan sent Szeremeta (21-2-0, 5 KOs) of Białystok, Poland to the canvas at the end of the first round with a sweeping left hook. Golovkin also decked Szeremeta in the second and fourth rounds in a one-sided fight.
* * *
December 19: Saul "Canelo" Alvarez beat Callum Smith by unanimous decision for the WBA world super-middleweight title at The Alamodome, San Antonio, United States. Alvarez, 30, of Guadalajara, Mexico, presently boxing's biggest draw, dominated the previously undefeated champion Smith, 30, of Liverpool, United Kingdom, and grabbed the super middleweight title. The judges had it 119-109, 119-109 and 117-111, all for Alvarez. Some 15,000 fans for 20% capacity witnessed Alvarez (54-1-2, 36 KOs) pummelled Smith (27-1, 19 KOs) for 12 rounds. Canelo landed 43% of his punches and 57% of his power punches per CompuBox figures. Smith commented only 18% of his punches and 24% of his power punches.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Life vs. Death: The Ultimate Ringside Showdown Immortalized in Pierce Egan’s Boxiana
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sat, 23 Nov 2024SPORTS SHORTS 284: TEAM MARK MAGSAYO CONFIRMS RETURN TO THE RING ON DECEMBER 14
By Maloney L. Samaco, Sat, 23 Nov 2024RJP Boxing promotes in Bucana on Dec. 17
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 23 Nov 2024Good Prospects at Minimumweight, Light Fly, Super Bantam and Super Feather in 2025
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sat, 23 Nov 2024Filipino International Master Chito Danilo Garma is the new World Senior Blitz champion; Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat takes the bronze medal
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 23 Nov 2024KAMBOSOS JR SIGNS CO-PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM
Sat, 23 Nov 2024INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME TO ANNOUNCE CLASS OF 2025 ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5th
Sat, 23 Nov 2024Ring Master promotes in Calinan on Dec. 21
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 Nov 2024NP Bansalan boxing team in Matalam
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 Nov 2024New York, Minnesota Biggest Trade Gainers; Los Angeles Has the Rookie Draft Steal
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 22 Nov 2024Filipino IM Bagamasbad prevails
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 22 Nov 2024DC girl’s futsal in Palawan now
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 Nov 2024Filipino FIDE Master Ivan Travis Cu is ready to face challenge
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 22 Nov 2024Dante Kirkman Secures First Career Knockout with 3rd Round TKO Victory
Fri, 22 Nov 2024Filipino Middleweight Star Blazen Rocili Set to Return to the Ring This Saturday in San Antonio, TX
Thu, 21 Nov 2024