Brandon Adams, Andreas Katzourakis Win, Advance To OTX 154-Pound Match Closing

The OTX junior middleweight match closing is ready.

Brandon Adams scored a knockdown en path to a hard-fought unanimous resolution victory over Francisco Veron Friday on DAZN from Time beyond regulation Elite Area in Atlanta, Georgia. Scores have been 98-91, 96-93, and 95-94 for Adams, who improved to

Adams will face Andreas Katzourakis, who defeated Robert Terry by break up resolution earlier on the cardboard.

The conflict between Adams and Veron was aggressive and even early on. Veron—who represented Argentina within the 2020 Tokyo Olympics—relied on his youth and athleticism to outbox Adams.

It was a flawed technique which Adams exploited and hit his offensive stride within the fourth.

Veron boxed from distance within the fifth. The 25-year previous landed a collection of proper palms, however Adams’ punches slowly took their toll. In direction of the top of spherical six, Adams landed a left hook to the physique that damage Veron.

Adams landed a proper cross behind a jab one minute into spherical seven. Veron momentarily staggered however managed to get away from Adams or clench to keep away from getting damage. Later within the spherical, a barrage of punches despatched Veron to sit down down on a hoop ropes, prompting referee Ansel Stewart to manage an eight-count.

Adams continued to punish Veron, outboxing and outlanding to the pinnacle and physique over the subsequent two rounds. Sensing he was down on the scorecards, Veron went on the assault and Adams towards the ropes. Nonetheless, Veron did little to land something important through the spherical.

Adams (25-3, 16 knockouts), 35, earned his semifinal slot with a third-round knockout of Ismael Villarreal on April 19. The identical present noticed Veron (14-1-1, 10 KOs) defeat Angel Ruiz by way of resolution of their quarterfinal contest.

Katzourakis and Terry scored quarterfinal wins on a Might 31 OTX present to arrange Friday’s semifinal matchup. Katzourakis (14-0, 10 KOs) gained a majority resolution over Kudratillo Abdukhakorov, and settled for a break up resolution victory on Friday. The Houston-based Greece native gained by matching scores of 98-92 on two playing cards. They overruled a 98-93 rating for Terry (12-1-1, 4 KOs), who beforehand defeated Estevan Villalobos to earn his place right here.

One choose scored the bout 98-93 for Terry, however the different two judges scored the bout 98-92 for Katzourakis, who enhance 14-0, 10 KOs.

Katzourakis was efficient along with his lead left hook, which Terry took properly. Terry was the busier fighter between the 2. There have been cases when Terry landed extra punches and mixtures throughout exchanges.

It was the late surge by Katzourakis, although, which sealed the victory. The 26-year-old elevated his punch output over the ultimate three rounds. Katzourakis put Terry on the defensive, with vicious hooks and crosses to the pinnacle and physique.

Adams and Katzourakis will now meet within the match closing on an OTX present later this yr.

Katzourakis earned the semi-final bout towards Terry by successful a detailed majority resolution over former world welterweight contender Kudratillo Abdukakhorov on Might 31. He’s managed by David McWater.

Terry, who resides in Jersey Metropolis, New Jersey, falls to 12-1-1, 4 KOs. Within the opening-round match bout, Terry defeated Estevan Villalobos be resolution, which additionally happened on Might 31.

PIERCE SURVIVES GUT CHECK

Elijah Pierce overcame one other robust problem to proceed his successful methods.

The Ring’s No. 9-rated junior featherweight outhustled Jose Sanmartin to take a unanimous resolution win. Scores have been 97-93, 97-93, and 99-91 for Pierce within the DAZN principal occasion.

Colombia’s Sanmartin did his greatest to make issues uncomfortable for Pierce within the early rounds. Pierce, primarily based in Lawrenceville, Georgia, tailored and in addition prevented the canvas, in contrast to his final outing additionally at this venue. Pierce was dropped within the second spherical however composed himself and knocked out Arthur Villanueva within the fourth spherical on March 29.

That’s to not say this struggle was with out drama. Villanueva overcame a low blow within the fourth to rock Pierce with a left hook later in that very same spherical. Pierce rapidly recovered and even took the lead from that time onward.

The win was the eleventh in a row for Pierce (20-2, 16 KOs). In the other way, Sanmartin (35-9-1, 21 KOs) has now misplaced 4 of his final six.

PRELIMINARY UNDERCARD

Junior light-weight Maliek Montgomery knocked out former world title challenger Oscar Escandon in spherical two.

Montgomery, who resides in Macon, Georgia, improves to 19-0, 17 KOs.

The taller Montgomery rained punches down on the sport Escandon. Montgomery walked down Escandon to the ropes, with Escandon trying to counter with appears to the pinnacle.

A few minute into spherical two, Montgomery backed Escandon right into a nook. Moments later, Montgomery unleashed an uppercut to the pinnacle that produced blood from the nostril. A mix from Montgomery pressured Escandon to take a knee, the place he remained as Ansell Stewart counted him out at 1:39.

Escandon, initially from Ibague, Colombia and now resides in San Jose, California, fell to 27-8, 18 KOs. The 40-year-old has now misplaced seven of his final 10 bouts.

Tremendous middleweight Donte Layne of Elmont, New York improved to 4-0, 4 KOs, knocking out Noah Kidd (8-11-2, 5 KOs) of Jefferson Metropolis, Missouri at 1:52 of the opening spherical. A left hand, adopted by a proper hook to the highest of the pinnacle dropped Kidd to the canvas, the place referee Malik Waleed counted him out

Within the opening bout of the OTX 10/ Chilly Summa card, junior light-weight Gustavo Rivera Rio overcame a knockdown in spherical one to defeat Brazil’s Carlos Dos Santos Rocha (3-6, 2 KOs) by unanimous resolution. All three judges scored the bout 58-54 for Rivera, who improved to 10-1, 7 KOs.

Rivera, who’s initially from Acapulco, Mexico and now lives and trains in Houston, Texas, dropped Rocha with a left hook to the physique in spherical two.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has lined boxing in Southern California and overseas since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He may be reached at [email protected]