MICHIGAN’S UNDEFEATED ARDREAL HOLMES JR. EMERGES VICTORIOUS IN FRONT OF HOMETOWN OF FLINT AGAINST EDWIN JUNIOR JIMENEZ
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 13 Dec 2024
FLINT, MICHIGAN – December 12, 2024 – Flint, Mich.’s Ardreal Holmes Jr. (17-0, 6 KOs) outclassed Springfield, Mass.’s Edwin Junior Jimenez (9-1, & KOs) in a back-and-forth “BIG TIME BOXING USA” main event on Saturday from the Dort Financial Center in Flint and on DAZN.
Perfect in his career thus far, Holmes Jr. showcased his skills in a main event match-up against the always dangerous Jimenez. Holmes Jr. saw his hand raised via unanimous decision, with all judges scoring the contest 97-93. Holmes Jr. now has the opportunity to face the No. 3-ranked super welterweight contender and former WBC silver champion Erickson Lubin for the No. 1 rank and mandatory position for the IBF 154-pound world title.
The co-feature saw the return of Joseph Spencer (19-1, 11 KOs) compete in his home state as he scored a tightly contested majority decision victory over Texas’ Miguel Angel Hernandez (9-1, 7 KOs), giving him his first career loss. While facing adversity throughout the bout, Spencer strung together his third straight victory.
In the second television bout, Samantha Worthington (10-0, 7 KOs) from Folsom, Calif., by way of Lexington, Ky., pushed the pace against New York’s Jaica Pavilus (4-7-1, 1 KO). Imposing her will against Pavilus, Worthington earned a unanimous decision victory, continuing to prove that she belongs in the upper echelon of the Women’s Super Lightweight division.
Opening the DAZN main card, Detroit native Da’Velle Smith (11-0, 8 KOs) battled his toughest test to date in William Townsel (8-2, 6 KOs). In a closely contested bout, Smith emerged victorious via majority decision, protecting his undefeated record in the process.
During the DAZN broadcast, it was announced that Flint’s own Claressa Shields will return to action in a massive homecoming event. The reigning WBC and WBO World Champion will defend her unified titles and fight for the vacant WBA Heavyweight World title against undefeated contender Danielle Perkins on Sunday, February 2. The event, aptly dubbed SUPER BRAWL SUNDAY, is promoted by Salita Promotions and will take place at Dort Financial Center in Shields’ hometown of Flint, Mich., and air live globally on DAZN, boxing’s leading streaming television provider.
In preliminary action, New York’s Pryce Taylor shined in his promotional debut as he scored a vicious TKO over KeShawn Jackson at 1:25 of round three. In a similar fashion, Bryon Rojas from Grand Rapids, Mich. (KO at 1:04 of round five), Hunter Lee from Canada (KO at 1:28 of round 1), and Kahmel Makled Macomb, Mich. (KO at 1:27 of round one) all recorded knockout victories. Competing for the Women’s WBC International Featherweight Title, Caroline Veyre of Canada defeated Uruguay’s Gabriela Bouvier via unanimous decision.
See below for more on the DAZN fights and what the fighters had to say:
SUPER WELTERWEIGHT MAIN EVENT – 10 ROUNDS
Ardreal Holmes Jr. (17-0, 6 KOs) defeated Edwin Junior Jimenez (9-1, 7 KOs) via unanimous decision
Scorecards: 97-93, 97-93, 97-93
“The lead up to this was pretty difficult. They kept switching my opponent because nobody wanted to fight me. I was preparing to fight a short guy and Jimenez was like six-foot.”
“It wasn’t his style holding me back. It’s just that not every night will be your best. We’ll keep growing. We are only 17 fights in, so we have a long way to go. A lot to learn. We’re just taking it step by step. This fight just got me more prepared for the next fight. Every time we step into the ring we get better. So, when we get Lubin, we’ll be that much better. Just prepared to be surprised. I am going to shock the world. Sink or swim. I’ll get in there with anybody.”
MIDDLEWEIGHT CO-FEATURE – 10 ROUNDS
Joseph Spencer (19-1, 11 KOs) defeated Miguel Angel Hernandez (9-1, 7 KOs) via majority decision
Scorecards: 95-95, 97-93, 98-92
“Hernandez is a very tough opponent. Tougher than expected,” said Spencer. “I am very grateful to have a very tough warrior in there with me tonight to perform. I felt like this was a close fight. Obviously, I can’t judge it when I’m inside the ring. Based on how I felt, I think the rounds that he won, he won pretty convincingly. The rounds that I won might’ve been a little closer. I think I landed the cleaner shots and the ring generalship and defense I displayed in the rounds that I won is what separated us.”
WOMEN’S SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT MAIN CARD BOUT – 6 ROUNDS
Samantha Worthington (10-0, 7 KOs) defeated Jaica Pavilus (4-7-1, 1 KO) via unanimous decision
Scorecards: 59-55, 59-55, 59-55
“I’m very happy with my win. I’m now 10-0 and ending the year on a high note,” said Worthington. “I know what I was created to do. I showed about 60% of the fighter I am tonight. There’s so much more left in the tank and we’re just getting started. Each fight I learn something. I was able to learn from this fight and now look forward to the future. I’ll be back in the ring very soon and I’m excited to show more of who “The Heat” truly is.”
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT MAIN CARD BOUT – 8 ROUNDS
Da’Velle Smith (11-0, 8 KOs) defeated William Townsel (8-2, 6 KOs) via majority decision
Scorecards: 76-76, 77-75, 78-74
“William [Townsel] was a tough opponent,” Smith said. “There were some things that I couldn’t stop that he was doing. I couldn’t time his left hand the way I wanted to counter it. But he was a great fighter coming forward and I just need to go back to the drawing board, make some adjustments and come back better. This was my first tough opponent and step up in competition. He was 8-1 and he came out to put on a great fight and he did just that.”
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