Gulf Coast Triumph: Jared Anderson Dominates Ryad Merhy
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 14 Apr 2024
Efe Ajagba Edges Guido Vianello in Co-Feature
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (April 13, 2024) — Jared "The Real Big Baby" Anderson did not have a particularly eager opponent in Ryad Merhy, but the heavyweight hopeful from Toledo, Ohio, got the job done.
Anderson faced little resistance and defeated Merhy via 10-round unanimous decision in the main event Saturday evening at American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. There was little drama when the scorecards were read, as Anderson prevailed by margins of 100-90 2x and 99-91.
Merhy (32-3, 26 KOs) showed little interest in engaging, throwing only 144 punches over the course of the fight. Anderson (17-0, 15 KOs) kept an active pace for a big man, landing 128 of 662 punches, including 49 power blows.
Anderson said, "Another day, another night in the office. I wanted to give the fans a better show, but what can you do when they show up to fight like him. It’s just another day in the office. We’re going to continue working.
“I stayed sharp for 10 rounds. That’s the biggest takeaway. I got to make some changes. I made some mistakes. I got hit with a few punches. I shouldn’t have gotten hit at all because he didn’t even come here to fight.
“I want all of the names. If I’m ranked with you and your name is near mine, then we can get it crackin’. We’re coming to knock everybody off."
Ajagba Outworks Vianello
Nigerian heavyweight contender Efe Ajagba (20-1, 14 KOs) earned a 10-round split decision over Italy's Guido Vianello (12-2-1, 10 KOs) in a phone booth battle of 2016 Olympians.
Vianello rocked Ajagba with a right hand in the second stanza and tried to end the fight swiftly, but “The Silent Roller” kept his composure and connected cleanly in the fourth and fifth rounds. The 29-year-old found a consistent home for uppercuts with both hands, though he controlled most of the action behind jabs and straight right hands.
Ajagba switched to southpaw in the later rounds. Vianello was perplexed by the change but figured him out by the final round. However, Ajagba had by then done enough on two of the judges scorecards to clinch the victory.
One judge had it 96-94 for Vianello, which was overruled by two scores of 96-94 for Ajagba.
Conceição Batters Guardado
Brazilian Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceição (18-2-1, 9 KOs) scored his first victory in two years by stopping Jose Guardado (15-2-1, 5 KOs) in the seventh round. Returning from a majority draw against Emanuel Navarrete in November, Conceição was quick to demonstrate the skill disparity with rapid combos in the opening chapters.
Conceição continued volume punching in rounds five and six, which prevented Guardado from mounting an attack. And in the seventh, the Brazilian landed a left hook to the body that dropped Guardado, who rose from the canvas, only to be stopped moments later with a flurry at 2:27.
Middleweight: Julian Delgado entered the paid ranks in front of his hometown fans today. The 22-year-old, who became the first Corpus Christi native to win a national Golden Gloves title in four decades, decisioned Juan Tamez (1-1) across four rounds of sustained action. Scores: 40-36 2x and 39-37.
Featherweight: Ruben Villa IV (22-1, 7 KOs) moved one step closer to a second world title shot by decisioning Cristian Cruz (22-7-1, 11 KOs) over 10 rounds to pick up the WBC Silver belt. Villa scored in the initial rounds with combinations from the outside, while Cruz found success to the body in rounds four and five. Villa retained control with constant pressure and counters in the final rounds. Scores: 98-92 2x and 97-93.
Welterweight: Corpus Christi's John Rincon (9-0, 2 KOs) defeated Yainel Alvarez (3-4-2, 1 KO) via six-round majority decision. Rincon worked behind a southpaw jab to land early, though he had to overcome Alvarez's erratic offense. Alvarez pressured in the final two rounds, but it was not enough. Scores: 57-57, 58-56, and 59-55.
Lightweight: 20-year-old phenom Abdullah Mason (13-0, 11 KOs) delivered a resounding fourth-round TKO against Ronal Ron (14-6, 11 KOs). Mason landed a flawless left hand that floored Ron as he was attempting a left hook. A Mason left to the solar plexus dropped Ron for a second time. He stepped on the throttle in the fourth and ended matters at 1:02 of the round.
Junior Lightweight: Filipino Olympian Charly Suarez (17-0, 9 KOs) tallied a workmanlike unanimous points verdict following eight rounds against Louie Coria (15-7, 7 KOs). Coria worked off a good jab and occasionally landed sharp uppercuts, but he was overwhelmed by sudden left hooks and right hands from Suarez. Coria scored a knockdown at the final bell, but it wasn't enough to close the gap. Scores: 77-74 2x and 76-75.
Junior Lightweight: Texas native Alejandro Guerrero (13-4, 10 KOs) upset Jalen Walker (12-1-1, 10 KOs) by flooring him twice before forcing Walker's corner to halt the action at 1:36 of the seventh. Guerrero, who snapped a four-fight losing skid, was dropped in the sixth before regaining the momentum in the seventh, He was ahead on all three cards, 56-55, at the time of the stoppage.
Heavyweight: Team USA's Ali Feliz (1-0, 1 KOs) made a successful pro debut by dispatching Anthony Woodson III (1-2, 1 KO) in two rounds. Time of stoppage: 1:16.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
ProBoxTV Travels to Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, This Friday, April 10, as Hebert Conceicao Sousa Battles Power-Punching South American Johan Gonzalez in Middleweight Main Event
Tue, 07 Apr 2026Yokasta Valle vs Lourdes Juarez for WBC Female world championship?
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 07 Apr 2026GM Joey Antonio ties for 10th in Canberra chess meet
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 07 Apr 2026Canelo Expected to Return on September 15 in Riyadh
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 07 Apr 2026Ring Masters Championships 2026 Finals April 10 at Madison Square Garden
Tue, 07 Apr 2026Jeffrey de Luna keep the Philippines alive in the 2026 Yalin WPA Men's 8-ball World Championship in St. Louis, Missouri, USA
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 07 Apr 2026NOTHING BUT SPORTZ PRESENTS GAMBOA & RIGONDEAUX — MAY 2 IN MIAMI ONE NIGHT. SAME CARD. HAVANA HEAT
Mon, 06 Apr 2026Wilkens Mathieu Against Olympic Medallist Esquiva Falcao at the Théâtre Capitole of Quebec City on June 11!
Mon, 06 Apr 2026National Master Jasper Faeldonia rules Romblon chessfest
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 06 Apr 2026Twin wins for Pinoy boxers
By Joaquin Henson, Sun, 05 Apr 2026NM Buto spearheads Goldland Chess Club
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 05 Apr 2026Andreas Cortes vs Eridson Garcia Tops Paramount Plus Card
By Chris Carlson, Sun, 05 Apr 2026Chris "Sandman" Thomas Back in the Win Column
Sun, 05 Apr 2026Taduran Stops Pérez in 7, and “Still” IBF 105 Champion
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 04 Apr 2026Pedro Taduran Scores Sensational Stoppage Over Gustavo PÉRez ÁLvarez in IBF Minimumweight World Championship Main Event
Sat, 04 Apr 2026