Russell dominates DeLeon

Ringside by Francisco Salazar
Photography by “Big” Joe Miranda

Featherweight Gary Russell Jr. is starting to find out more about himself as a fighter with each passing bout. Based on his most performances, that is great news for him and bad news for the rest of the division.

Russell dominated Guadalupe DeLeon throughout six rounds, winning a one-sided unanimous decision before a near-sellout crowd at Club Nokia at L.A. Live in Los Angeles, CA.

The bout headlined a six-bout “Fight Night Live” card, presented by Golden Boy Promotions.

Russell has been impressive in dismantling normally-durable veterans or world champions. In his most recent bout last month, Russell knocked Willie Villanueva out in the first round. Prior to that bout, Russell stopped faded former world champion Mauricio Pastrana in the first round of a scheduled six round bout.

Although DeLeon had lost nine of his last 10 bouts entering Thursday night’s bout against Russell, he had never lost by knockout in those bouts. His lone victory amongst his recent 10 bouts was a split-decision victory over previously-unbeaten Derrick Wilson. In February, he lost by majority decision to Charles Huerta and in May lost a close unanimous decision to Ronny Rios.

From the beginning, Russell was the clearly the better fighter. He utilized his speed to take initiative as DeLeon hardly through a punch in the first round.

Although DeLeon began to throw more punches in the second round, the southpaw Russell either countered him with left hands to the head or aggressively attacked the body.

With each passing round, DeLeon’s face began to redden from the number of punches Russell connected to his face. Things got very complicated for DeLeon as he was hurt with a right hook the head near the end of the third round. DeLeon wobbled back to a corner and tried to tie up an aggressive Russell as he was coming in. Fortunately for DeLeon, the bell sounded to end the round.

DeLeon opened up more in the fourth and fifth rounds. He was at his best on the inside, but Russell created space and landed hard combinations to the head and body. DeLeon was in survival mode in the sixth round, attempting to avoid being hit often as he had been in the previous rounds.

Although he fought back bravely at times, Russell was on his game throughout the bout and looked impressive in dominating another opponent.

All three judges, including Fightnews.com, scored the bout 60-54 in favor of Russell.

“The game plan from the start was to use my speed,” said Russell, whose decision victory over DeLeon snapped a seven-bout knockout streak. “I have a very smart team that has allowed me to work on my inside game, which I feel is my weakness. I would like to be more comfortable inside so that I can keep the same level of creativity. I like to take away all options away from my opponent.”

Russell, from Capital Heights, MD, goes to 13-0, 9 KO’s. DeLeon, from Mission, TX, drops to 8-12, 4 KO’s.

Maldonado stops Willoughby

Unbeaten Lightweight Fidel Maldonado stopped John Willoughby in the first round of a scheduled four round bout.

Maldonado, who recently signed with Golden Boy Promotions, went on the attack from the opening bell, loading up on his punches. The smaller Willoughby tried to fight back, but was outgunned as he was repeatedly hit with hard punches by Maldonado.

A flurry of punches had Willoughby stunned as he backed away from Maldonado. Rather than go after Willoughby, Maldonado tried to finish him with one punch. Sensing their man was not well because of semi-wobbly legs, Willoughby’s corner ordered the bout to be stopped. Referee Raul Caiz, Sr. stopped the bout at 2:35.

Maldonado, from Albuquerque, NM, goes to 5-0, 5 KO’s. Willoughby, from Selma, AL, falls to 2-6, 1 KO.

Amidu decisions Lopez

Hard-hitting Junior Lightweight Yakubu Amidu won for the first time by decision in his career, earning a six round unanimous decision over Noe Lopez.

The first two rounds were slow-paced, as Lopez attempted to counter the advancing Amidu. Although the action was slow, Amidu controlled the fight by outlanding Lopez. Both fighters began to let their hands go more in the middle rounds. Although Lopez landed more compared to the first two rounds, Amidu threw and landed much more than Lopez.

Amidu, who lost a close majority decision to Ali Funeka in April of 2007, kept the pressure on Lopez in the final two rounds. Although Amidu was not quick or overpowering, he was able to outland Lopez throughout the fight.

All three judges scored the bout in favor of Amidu, with scores of 60-54, 60-54, and 59-55. Fightnews.com scored the bout 59-55 in favor of Amidu.

Amidu, from Los Angeles, CA by way of Accra, Ghana, improves to 17-2-1, 16 KO’s. Lopez, from Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, falls to 7-6, 5 KO’s.

Savage rallies to stop Hunter

Super Middleweight Dion Savage rallied from being hurt to knock out Eddie Hunter in the third round of a scheduled six round bout.

Savage, trained by Roger Mayweather, was hurt in the first round by a counter right hand by Hunter. After his legs wobbled, Savage held on right away as Hunter tried to land more damaging punches. Throughout the bout, Hunter would try to land that overhand right again.

At times, Savage looked uncomfortable, but tried to throw two-three punch combinations behind his jab. He began to find a rhythm in the second round as Hunter looked to again land the right hand.

In the third, Savage countered with a left hook to the head of Hunter that dropped him to the canvas. Referee Raul Caiz, Sr. immediately stopped the bout at 1:05, despite the protests of Hunter, who though he was well enough to continue.

Savage, from Las Vegas, NV by way of Flint, MI, goes to 10-0, 6 KO’s. Hunter, from Seattle, WA, drops to 4-4-2, 1 KO.

McCumby stops Hayes in debut

In a battle of Cruiserweights making their professional debuts, Trevor McCumby stopped Sharieff Hayes in the third round of a scheduled four round bout.

McCumby would not miss all night as he repeatedly landed right hands to the head of Hayes. However, McCumby, from Glendale, AZ, would telegraph those overhand right hands, something he might not be able to get away with in future fights.

Hayes, from Phoenix, AZ, did everything to hold and countered few times when given the opportunity. He was constantly on the defensive as McCumby was aggressive throughout the bout.

In the third round, McCumby landed a series of right hands that had Hayes on the defensive and backing up in a corner. Referee David Mendoza saw enough and waved the fight over 1:20.

Anderson clowns in loss to Valadez

Welterweight Ramon Valadez won a four round unanimous decision over Aaron Anderson.

Rather than spend his time in the ring fighting, Anderson chose to clown around the ring. He would shimmy or put both hands behind his back and try to surprise Valadez. However, it rarely worked as Valadez blocked the punch or Anderson would miss. Valadez went on the attack at times, landing right hands to the head.

Valadez scored a knockdown in the third round as he landed a right hand to the head of Anderson. Undaunted, Anderson tried to fight back, even trading with the stronger Valadez. Just when it looked as though Valadez might get the stoppage, he got very sloppy, at times missing wildly with his punches.

Both fighters traded punches in the final round. However, Valadez landed more and his punches were more effective than Anderson’s.

All three judges, including Fightnews.com, scored the bout 40-35 in favor of Valadez.

Valadez, from East Los Angeles, CA, goes to 3-1, 1 KO. Anderson, from Knoxville, TN, drops to 1-9, 1 KO.

Notes:

- Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley, Lightweights Carlos Molina and David Rodela, unbeaten Frankie Gomez, and Floyd Mayweather-advisor Leonard Ellerbe watched the action from ringside.

- Shane Mosley Jr. fought a three round amateur bout. With his father and grandfather Jack Mosley in his corner, Mosley, Jr. unfortunately was not able to get the victory, losing a decision to Ivan Lazaro. Two other amateur bouts were also on the card.

- Golden Boy Promotions will present the final “Fight Night Club” card on Thursday, November 18th at Club Nokia at L.A. Live. In the main event, Lightweights Molina and Rodela will battle it out in an eight round bout.

- The bouts were televised on ringtv.com and will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net in the coming days with Mario Solis and Doug Fischer doing the play-by-play. Check local listings in your area.

- Ring announcer was Joe Martinez.