The Weekend That Was

Time for a run-down of the weekend’s major boxing results with a little help from our friends at FightFan.com.

On Friday night, Erislandy Lara (24-2-2) reminded everyone he’s still a force to be reckoned with in the super welterweight division when he delivered a sensational knockout of former champion Yuri Foreman (34-3) in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on Spike from Hialeah Park Racing and Casino in Miami. In front of a huge Cuban audience, Lara needed just a single left uppercut to drop and stop Foreman at 1:47 of round four. Foreman was also down in round three from a questionable knockdown that could have been ruled a slip.

Lara watches Foreman fall.
Lara watches Foreman fall.

“I’m very happy with my performance,” said Lara. “He was a little bit awkward, so I had to make some adjustments and we got him out of there. I’m ready to fight the best in the world, Golovkin, Canelo. Whoever is willing to step in the ring with me.”

“I got caught with a perfect punch and that’s what happens,” said Foreman. “I tried very hard to shake it off, but he got me.”

In the co-main event, former world champion Anthony Dirrell (30-1-1) looked sharp while dismantling Hungary’s Norbert Nemesapati (24-4) over six lopsided rounds. Dirrell controlled the entire match and in round six pummeled Nemesapati with a two-fisted assault, prompting the referee to halt the fight at the end of the round.

Dirrell wins 44
Dirrell dominated.

On Saturday night, the boxing world was focused on the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the big Showtime card. There were three major fights on the undercard. In a major upset, middleweight Immanuwel Aleem (17-0-1) scored the biggest win his of career with a sixth round technical knockout over Ievegen Khytrov (14-1). Then WBO Junior Featherweight champ Amanda Serrano (31-1-1) decisioned Yazmin Rivas (35-10-1) in the first nationally televised women’s title match in nearly a decade.

Then it was time for undefeated Gervonta Davis to steal the spotlight and he did just that with an electrifying performance, stopping previously unbeaten Jose Pedraza (22-1) by TKO in round seven, winning the IBF 130 pound world title in the process. Pedraza did his best to compete but with the exception of round five, it was all Gervonta. A wicked right hand floored “The Sniper” in round seven and while Pedraza beat the count, the referee wisely ended the bout.

The main event exceeded all expectations as James DeGale (23-1-1) and Badou Jack (20-1-3) battled in an exciting distance fight with more than its share of twists and turns. It was a barnburner as WBC super middleweight champion Jack and IBF champion DeGale engaged in a 12 round war. DeGale dropped Jack in the first and then Jack scored his own knockdown in the closing round, which will no doubt be a strong candidate for Round of the Year. After the final bell DeGale was ahead on one card with the other two even, rendering the fight a majority draw. Not an unfair verdict, no matter what Floyd says. Let’s do it again!

Jack_DeGale rumble 333

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