Andreas Katzourakis’ debut at 154 kilos was a profitable one.
Katzourakis defeated Kudratillo Abdukakhorov by majority choice late Friday night time at Pink Owl Boxing Enviornment in his hometown of Houston, Texas. One choose scored the bout 95-95, whereas the opposite two judges scored the bout 98-92 and 96-94 for Katzourakis, who improved to 13-0, 10 knockouts.
Each fighters selected to remain within the pocket early on, exchanging punches and mixtures. Halfway by way of the second spherical, an overhand proper nearly despatched Abdukakhorov right down to the canvas. Moments later, a counter left hook to the pinnacle nearly dropped Katzourakis.
In spherical three, Abdukakhorov once more was in a position to land, connecting with a proper hand that snapped again the pinnacle of Katzourakis. All through a lot of the battle, Abdukakhorov would change and forth between standard and southpaw stances. The tactic allowed Abdukakhorov to attach and land to the physique of Katzourakis, significantly throughout the center rounds.
Abdukakhorov could have been the more-effective fighter early on, however Katzourakis principally dominated the second half of the battle. Abdukakhorov could have been busier, however Katzourakis landed the simpler punches throughout a number of exchanges.
Through the closing two rounds, Katzourakis walked Abdukakhorov down, backing him in opposition to the ropes. Abdukakhorov was in a position to counter throughout spots, however Katzourakis continued to land the more-telling blows till the ultimate bell sounded.
The 26-year-old Katzourakis, who was born in Greece and is managed by David McWater, final fought on January 20, stopping journeyman Corey Caad after the third spherical. His finest win up to now was an eighth spherical knockout win over Raphael Igbokwe on August 25, his first underneath the OTX Boxing banner.
Abdukakhorov, who resides in Andijan, Uzbekistan, falls to 20-3, 12 KOs. The 30-year-old had gained his final two fights and was the longtime necessary challenger to then-IBF world welterweight contender Errol Spence. Abdukakhorov suffered his first defeat of his profession in December 2021, dropping by choice to contender Cody Crowley.
Katzourakis strikes to the semi-final of the OTX Boxing junior middleweight event. He’ll face Robert Terry, who defeated Estevan Villalobos by unanimous choice within the co-main occasion. Scores had been 100-90, 100-90, and 98-92 for Terry, who improved to 12-0-1, 4 KOs.
Villalobos was the aggressor from the opening spherical, trying to again Terry in opposition to the ropes. Terry side-stepped and successfully countered to the pinnacle, following up with extra punches and mixtures to the pinnacle.
Because the battle progressed, Villalobos’ punch output dropped, however he was nonetheless recreation. Terry would provoke exchanges, connecting with two-punch mixtures to the pinnacle. Terry was the aggressor in the direction of the top of the battle, trying to rating a knockdown or knockout, however Villalobos was in a position to clench or battle out of hazard.
The 30-year-old Terry, who resides in Jersey Metropolis, New Jersey, has gained his final three fights since a split-decision draw in opposition to Raul Garcia on April 7 of final yr.
Villalobos, who now resides in Mount Vernon, Washington and trains alongside unbeaten David Benavidez, falls to 16-3-1, 12 KOs. The 32-year-old has now misplaced his final two fights.
In junior welterweight motion, Giovanni Marquez of Houston gained by break up choice in opposition to San Antonio’s Jason Limon (8-2-1, 2 KOs). The battle was initially introduced as a split-decision draw (77-75 Limon, 77-76, Marquez, and 76-76), however OTX Boxing guidelines mandate an extra spherical to resolve a winner.
After the bonus spherical was fought, the battle was once more introduced as a split-decision draw (86-85 Marquez, 86-85 Limon, and 86-86). Afterwards, the Texas Combative Sports activities Program introduced there was a calculation error on the scorecards, with the right scorecards having Marquez successful 86-85 on two of the judges’ scorecards.
Marquez improved to 10-0, 5 KOs. The 23-year-old is the son of former world junior middleweight titleholder and 1992 U.S. Olympian Raul Marquez.
Junior welterweight Breyon Gorham of close by Baytown improved to 17-0, 14 KOs, stopping Mexico’s Luis Baltazar after spherical three.
Gorham dominated a recreation Baltazar (12-2-1, 5 KOs) from the opening bell, touchdown at will with hooks and crosses. In direction of the top of spherical three, a proper hand-left hook mixture dropped Baltazar to the canvas. Baltazar beat the rely, and made it out of the spherical, however Baltazar’s nook instructed referee John Schorle to cease the battle.
In junior light-weight motion, Alexander Espinoza of Managua, Nicaragua dropped Mexico Metropolis’s Gustavo Rivera (9-1, 7 KOs) as soon as en path to a split-decision victory. One choose scored the bout 76-74 for Rivera, whereas the opposite two judges scored the bout 76-74 for Espinoza, who improved to 22-6-2, 8 KOs.
Espinoza was deducted some extent throughout the battle for repeated low blows.
In featherweight motion, LeAnna Cruz of Allentown, Pennsylvania defeated late-sub and former strawweight world titleholder Nancy Franco (19-21-2, 5 KOs) by choice. All three judges scored the bout 60-54 in favor of Cruz, who goes to 9-0.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has coated boxing in Southern California and overseas since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He might be reached at [email protected]
Observe @FSalazarBoxing
