David Benavidez battles with Oleksandr Gvozdyk throughout their mild heavyweight showdown at MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment in Las Vegas. (Picture by Steve Marcus/Getty Pictures)
The sunshine heavyweight model of David Benavidez regarded just like the tremendous middleweight type: Proficient, punishing, correct, and dominant.
Benavidez, on the Gervonta Davis-Frank Martin undercard earlier than 13,249 on the MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment, in Las Vegas, on Saturday night time, progressively ripped aside former WBC mild heavyweight titlist Oleksandr Gvozdyk.
Although he appeared to put on down within the latter rounds, Benavidez (29-0, 24 knockouts) received comfortably by unanimous scores of 116-112, 117-111, and 119-109 in his mild heavyweight debut.
David Benavidez punished Oleksandr Gvozdyk to the physique (Picture by Esther Lin-Premier Boxing Champions).
“I went up in weight, received each single spherical and dominated a former world champion and an Olympian as properly,” mentioned Benavidez, The Ring’s No. 1-rated tremendous middleweight. “I had him damage a few occasions. I wasn’t throwing a variety of combos as a result of I reinjured my hand within the third spherical.
“I tore my proper ligament 4 weeks earlier than the battle and I damage my left hand in camp. I’m happy with myself as a result of I additionally received a minimize three weeks in the past and I pushed by way of and gave the followers battle.
“I’m wanting ahead to what’s subsequent within the division.”
Although they each weighed 174.2 kilos, there was a noticeable measurement distinction once they received into the ring: The 37-year-old Gvozdyk (20-2, 16 KOs) was the bigger fighter. The Ukrainian got here out quick, though that tactic didn’t final lengthy. Benavidez chopped on the physique and performed the stalker.
Gvozdyk, the 2012 London Olympic bronze medalist, tried utilizing the jab and moved properly, although it was Benavidez who received the opening spherical, touchdown the physique pictures.
Benavidez opened the second by stuffing a jab into Gvozdyk’s face. He rapidly adopted with a winging left hook. Benavidez went again to clubbing Gvozdyk within the sides. With 1:08 left within the spherical, Benavidez clipped Gvozdyk with a punishing one-two. Within the final 30 seconds of the spherical, Benavidez dug a proper a left into Gvozdyk’s sides.
Within the third, Benavidez unloaded on Gvozdyk with a straight proper to the face, adopted by a left hook, adopted by a proper to the physique. Within the final 20 seconds of the fourth, Benavidez used Gvozdyk for goal apply. He received pounded with a left hook, and a double proper uppercut. Referee Thomas Taylor checked in with Gvozdyk after the spherical.
Gvozdyk’s vitality output was significantly slower by the fifth. Benavidez was snapping his head again with straight rights, and with :58 left, he banged Gvozdyk with a crunching left hook to the jaw that Gvozdyk took properly.
With 26 seconds left within the sixth, Benavidez was tagging Gvozdyk at will, tapping with a lead left hook. Halfway by way of the battle, it was simple to see Benavidez pitching a shutout.
By eight, Gvozdyk gave the impression to be in survival mode, extra content material to final than to win.
Lastly, Gvozdyk appeared to get up within the ninth, making use of strain and being environment friendly for the primary time within the battle. Gvozdyk adopted with a stable tenth, as Benavidez gave the impression to be downshifting. Benavidez did tag Gvozdyk with a counter left hook, with a proper to the physique, then again up with a left hook to the top.
Gvozdyk got here out sturdy once more within the twelfth. A few minute later, Benavidez was plowing Gvozdyk’s physique as soon as extra. With 1:16 left within the battle, Gvozdyk did land a proper uppercut, which Benavidez had no drawback taking. The 2 ended int a flurry on the ropes, after which hugged it up as the ultimate bell sounded.
“I clearly want we received a unique determination tonight,” mentioned Gvozdyk, The Ring’s No. 7-rated mild heavyweight. “I want I had carried out a little bit extra and been extra lively within the early rounds of the battle.
“I believe the scores had been fairly correct. It was battle, a detailed battle. He was higher within the first half of the battle, however I believe I began doing higher within the second half. I’d love a rematch with him.”
Alberto Puello shocks Gary Antuanne Russell
Alberto Puello lands a head-turning left to Gary Antuanne Russell throughout their 140-pound bout at MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Picture by Steve Marcus/Getty Pictures)
A former WBA junior welterweight titlist, Alberto Puello (23-0, 10 KOs) pulled off a serious shock by beating handing Gary Antuanne Russell his first defeat by split-decision.
Judges Glenn Feldman (115-112) and Tim Cheatham (114-113) scored for Puello, however choose David Hudson in some way noticed a far totally different battle than anybody within the area, scoring it 118-109 for Russell (17-1, 17 KOs).
Puello received one thing known as the WBC “interim junior welterweight title.”
“I received down on my knees and the very first thing I did was thank God, after which I mentioned, ‘I made it.’ The burden barrier, the time away from my household, it was all value it,” Puello mentioned. “It feels nice to be a champion, as a result of this may mark the start of a brand new chapter in my life.
“It was one of the best I’ve ever fought in my life. The exhausting work being distant from my household lastly paid off. Carry anyone on, I don’t care. I’m able to face all comers.”
Russell was not about to present Puello a lot credit score.
“It wasn’t about what Puello did tonight, it was about what I didn’t do,” mentioned Russell, The Ring’s No. 8-rated junior welterweight. “I ought to have listened extra and executed extra. Like I all the time say, if I execute our sport plan, it’s a matter of undeniable fact that I’ll get the victory. However tonight I fell quick.
“I’m all the time going to point out good sportsmanship. Congrats to Puello, and now again to the drafting board.”
Carlos Adames slams a proper into Terrell Gausha (Picture by Esther Lin-Premier Boxing Champions)
Carlos Adames defends the WBC middleweight title for the primary time
In a battle that was not probably the most aesthetically pleasing, Carlos Adames (24-1, 18 KOs) made his first protection of the WBC middleweight title with an earthly, relatively simple unanimous determination over Terrell Gausha (24-4-1, 12 KOs).
Adames was awarded 118-110 selections on two scorecards, and 119-109 on the opposite. The one spherical the place both fighter confirmed any actual hearth got here within the seventh from Adames, after his coach, the esteemed Ismael Salas, gave him between rounds.
“This win could be very satisfying,” mentioned Adames, The Ring’s No. 1-rated middleweight. “To have defended my title the way in which I did, with the convincing determination, was what I needed after a yr away.
“The knockout was within the making till I landed that unintentional low blow. That was unlucky. (Gausha) was capable of compose himself and catch his breath after that. He was an uncomfortable, distinctive opponent to face.”
Gausha didn’t do a lot. He got here on a little bit late, however hardly did something for the primary eight rounds.
“Carlos Adames is a tricky hell of a fighter and he has a powerful punch, so I knew we needed to be cautious within the first few rounds,” he mentioned. “The sport plan was to choose it up in the direction of the tip of the battle, which I believed I did, however clearly it wasn’t sufficient tonight.
“The scorecards had been huge. I don’t agree with them. I believed it was nearer, however on the finish of the day he received the battle. So, it’s what it’s.
“I’m blessed to have the ability to do what I like to do on the age of 36. I’ve no accidents and nice protection. I simply have to return to the drafting board after which we’ll see the place we go from right here.”
Middleweight Kyrone Davis (19-3-1, 6 KOs) received the most important battle of his profession, upsetting the beforehand undefeated Elijah Garcia (16-1, 13 KOs) by 10-round split-decision.
Combating for the second time as a junior light-weight, former WBC featherweight titlist Mark Magsayo (26-2, 17 KOs) received a 10-round determination over Eduardo Ramirez (28-4-3, 13 KOs).
Junior light-weight southpaw prospect Justin Viloria (6-0, 4 KOs) remained undefeated by stopping Angel Contreras (15-9-2, 9 KOs) at 2:02 of the fifth spherical in a scheduled six-rounder.
Junior featherweight Brayan Gonzalez received his professional debut with a four-round determination over James Mulder (0-2). Tremendous middleweight Daniel Blancas (10-0, 4 KOs) received an eight-round determination over Aro Schwartz (23-8-1, 15 KOs). Featherweight Reina Tellez (8-0-1, 5 KOs) received a four-round determination over Beta Dudek (4-2, 4 KOs). Junior light-weight Margaret Whitmore (3-0, 2 KOs) received a four-round majority determination over Mia Ellis (7-3, 6 KOs).
Joseph Santoliquito is a Corridor of Fame, award-winning sportswriter who has been working for Ring Journal/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America.
Observe @JSantoliquito
