No recount this time
Chavez, Jr. beats Vanda handily; Donaire, Arce, stop foes

Ringside report by Victor Perea
Photography by Chris Cozzone
- FightWireImages.com

After a controversial split decision victory over Matt Vanda in Mexico in July, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. left himself needing to reassure his superiority over Vanda, this time on neutral turf.

Sporting his nations colors, Chavez Jr. entered the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas with tri-color shoes and gloves to Vanda’s matching red and black shoes and shorts in front of lively crowd of 5,414.

It was pretty even exchanges during the first round, as the favored Chavez Jr. found his mark more often than his opponent, winning the opening round. Chavez Jr. continued to find his mark in the second, controlling the pace and taking control of the ring. Vanda landed a big counter right hand that allowed him to show up on the radar with just seconds left in the round.

During the third round, Chavez Jr. continued to find his mark, deeply concentrated on executing his game plan and carefully picking his mark, only trading blow for blow when he wanted not when Vanda chose. At the same time, a ringside fan caused a heck of a disturbance. Although the fighters were unaware an entire section of ringside observers were pestered by a third row ticket holder who refused to sit down, prompting Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Officers in attendance to forcibly remove him and his trendy scarf from his ringside seat, much to the applause of that side of the arena.

Continuing in the fourth, Chavez Jr. worked his left jab well while Vanda occasionally rushed in with big right hooks. Midway through round Vanda began to land, including a big right hook with less than a minute to go that got a response from the crowd. The two fighters traded heavily to end the fourth and touched gloves as Vanda appeared to have stolen the round.

Behind on the scorecards but not out of the fight yet, Vanda entered the fifth with a triple left jab, punctuating his intent to build momentum.

Keeping focused Chavez Jr. stuck with the game plan refusing to sway all the while Vanda continued to come forward. Chavez Jr. complained of a low blow to referee Robert Byrd who, instead, stopped the action to warn both fighters to watch their heads. The sixth ended with Chavez Jr. with his back to ropes hands down to his sides, ducking Vanda’s loaded punches and taunting his opponent.

The action continued in the seventh as the two traded on the inside. A minute into the round, Chavez Jr. again complained of a low blow, unseen, but Byrd warned them to keep the punches up. Shortly after a busy exchange, Byrd broke the fighters and warned Chavez Jr. for leading with his head with less than a minute to go, Vanda tagged his favored opponent with a left hook and managed to steal another round.

The two crowd-pleasing combatants had definitely turned this into as good of a fight as anticipated, with Chavez Jr. not letting off the gas and continuing to control the bout, and Vanda left looking for one big answer in order to catch up. In an awkward moment, both fighters stopped throwing, turned and walk to their corners prematurely, about four seconds before the bell actually rang. 

The ninth round started with the pro-Chavez crowd chanting his name as he came out throwing heavy and landing. Certainly needing a knockout Vanda threw heavier and heavier. Chavez, however, was back on the offensive, tagging Vanda on the ropes. Vanda swung and missed, and Jr. countered, Vanda covered up, neither fighter having gained or lost anything from the exchange. A right hook from Vanda with a minute to go stuck Chavez Jr. on the ropes. From there, the son of a legend answered back with a flurry finishing the round working hard to the end leaving Vanda in need of a knockout.

The final round began with the crowd on their feet and both fighters trading heavily, Vanda mouthing off as he throws, while Jr. pounded his fist on his legs, calling for more as the entire arena chanted his name.

They continued to trade, Jr. landing, then Vanda. As the final seconds ticked away Chavez, shook his hips and danced as Vanda swung and missed. Chavez Jr. unloaded, not willing to cruise to victory, showing he has learned his lesson. 

After the final bell Chavez was awarded his second decision victory over Vanda—but this time, it was unanimous, undisputed even by Vanda.

“He outworked me, he won the fight,” said Vanda post fight “But I think the people got their money’s worth.”

Chavez Jr. acknowledged that this time out he won the fight fairly and clearly.

“I changed up and I boxed him more this time. I dictated the rhythm of the fight,” said Chavez Jr. who landed 28% of 625 total punches thrown, while the game Vanda landed 33% of 505. 

“We fought when I wanted to fight and we boxed when I wanted to box.”

The scores read 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93 opening the door for Chavez Jr. to move past this bump in the road and attempt to achieve bigger better things, including a world title.

Donaire retains title-cut ends Mthalane’s title hopes

Defending his IBO and IBF flyweight titles, rising Philippine star Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire entered the ring with the loudest entrance song brought to us by a trio of pinoy rappers along with a pair of lady friends who escorted the title belts into the ring, garnering more attention than the sparkling accessories.

Along with his two titles, Donaire entered with a two inch reach and height advantage over the South African challenger Moruti “Babyface” Mthalane.

Making his first appearance outside of South Africa, Mthalane stated before the fight that he welcomed the added pressure in his first world title fight.

The two fighters started the contest on even ground peppering the other with an even exchange of jabs. Donaire used his reach gently keeping Mthalane at a comfortable distance, making him earn anything he landed. 

Mthalane managed to find his mark and land well from the inside, pushing the pace and after losing the first two close rounds took the third and the fourth evening the scoreboard. The Filipino champion pressed on, switching from orthodox to southpaw further challenging Mthanlane. Although in control, it appeared he was having a harder time than most thought he would with the less experience underdog fighting so far from home.

The fifth showed both fighters using the jab to set up their punches with Donaire’s corner calling for him to close the distance and let his hands go. Two judges gave Donaire the fifth, the third awarded it to the tough Mthalane.

With the bout closer than most would have predicted, Donaire began to land a stiff uppercut on the short Mthalane, forcing him to throw less when he attempted to gain an inside edge. Midway through the round, Donaire landed a stiff straight right that sliced open Mthalane’s left eyelid.

Donaire immediately pointed to the bloody mark, showing referee Joe Cortez who called time and escorted Mthalane to a ringside physician. From there Cortez, at the counsel of the doctor waved off the contest declaring the cut directly over the left eye of the South African rendered him unable to continue. 

The jammed challenger returned to his corner as Donaire celebrated and the crowd showered the ring with disappointment.

A disappointing end to a promising affair Donaire retained both of his title via TKO due to cut at 1:31 of the sixth round.

Donaire (20-1, 13 KOs) landed 28% of 143 power punches while Mthlane (22-2, 15 KOs) connected on 23% of a total of 278 total punches. 

With the victory, albeit it a disappointing once, Donaire may have set himself up for a showdown with popular Mexican spark plug Jorge “El Travieso” Arce in March.

Arce ends Garcia’s night early

In an exciting super flyweight contest, popular Jorge ‘El Travieso” Arce defended his interim WBA title against the game Isidro “El Chino” Garcia. 

Garcia took it right to Arce to begin the contest throwing several combinations while Arce covered up, yawned and then decided to wake up. Once Arce countered, Garcia smiled and called for Arce to bring it, prompting a response for the inebriated “Travieso” fans in the crowd after an Arce jab erased the smile from Garcia’s face.

With seconds left in the opening stanza Arce went to the body of Garcia where once again Garcia pouted and asked for more action as the round ended in his favor.

A left jab landed for Garcia to start the second as his hurried pace dictated the contest in his favor. With less than a minute to go the two exchanged flurries and woke the still sparse crowd up. The round ended with the two fighters squaring up after the bell and forcing referee Tony Weeks to push the two to their respective corners.

Entering the third, Garcia took it to the Mexican star who threw out his left jab and back-peddled. Garcia stopped in his tracks, pointed at the ground in front of him and pled for Arce to stand in front of him. Arce complied and momentarily traded leather, then backed up prompting Garcia to again ask for action. The two again closed the distance and began to trade, with Garcia calling for Arce to come forward at every pause in the action. Arce played the part and stuck his chin out taunting Garcia and getting a rise out of the entertained crowd. 

To open the fourth, Arce stepped on the gas and brought the leather, quickly hurting Garcia with a left hook to the body. With the first left, Garcia nearly went down to a knee but winced and stayed up. Arce exploded and pounced on his hurt opponent, this time making sure another solid left hook to the body forced Garcia to a knee.

After recovering from the knockdown Arce rushed across the ring to finish what he started and, after a barrage of punches, Weeks stopped the bout at :48 of the fourth round, much to the delight of the pro Arce crowd. 

Although Arce was overwhelming Garcia with a flurry of punches at the time of the stoppage nothing was really landing cleanly and to some ringside observers the stop seemed a bit premature. Although giving the state of Garcia’s body he probably wouldn’t have finished the round anyway. 

Although Garcia pushed the pace for much of the first two rounds punch stats favored Arce who landed 26% of 321 punches compared to 28% of 248 total punches for Garcia. Arce (51-4-1, 38 Kos) keeps his interim WBA belt with the TKO victory while Garcia (25-6-2, 8 KOs) losses his third fight in his last four outings. 

Peterson outshines Tyner

In a battle for the NABF light welterweight title, DC’s Lamont Peterson locked horns with Lanardo Tyner of Detroit.

Peterson entered the favorite, sporting an undefeated record, a nine-year youth advantage, along with a four inch reach and three inches in height for good measure. 

Tyner immediately came out with a flurry, and by “immediately,” I mean the first two seconds. In doing so, he got a rise out of the sparse crowd and reminded Peterson that once the bell rings the gloves go up. Tyner continued his tirade taking it to Peterson with everything in his arsenal, fighting like he wanted it. Peterson eventually stuck out a double jab to slow Tyner down but by the end of the first Peterson’s face was already showing the affects of a solid opening round for the eager Tyner.

Peterson kept his composure, surely doubting Tyner could hold the pace for long, and landed his jab throughout the beginning of the round, while beginning to work the body of his opponent. Approximately two minutes in, Peterson landed a left just on the bottom of the belt receiving a warning from referee Jay Nady. Peterson began finding his mark later in the round. An overconfident Tyner finished the round eating three consecutive left hooks to the noggin from Peterson that sent him to his corner in a slight stupor.

During the fourth, Nady stopped the bout and warned Peterson a second time to keep his punches up as Peterson continued to chip away at the body. With only a few ticks left in the round Peterson countered low and forced Nady to call time and deduct a point for the arrant blow.

As the fight wore on Peterson stayed patient and continued to gain momentum landing his well times shots with far greater accuracy than the busy Tyner. As the two traded in what was now officially a phone booth fight, Peterson was again warned for a low blow in the seventh, the crowd disapproved. The two exchanged as Nady ordered the two to break. As Tyner swung, Peterson backed out and stumbled on the ropes unhurt, no knockdown was awarded. Rightly so.

As the fight wore on the exchanges grew more heated and Tyner grew more tired with constant action from Peterson taking a tole. Eating combinations on the ropes, Tyner smiled back and countered. It was obvious that Peterson’s momentum continued to grow landing cleaner punches and more often.

Tyner had slowed to a crawl entering the eight round while Peterson took his time, apparently not worried about anything Tyner may throw back at him. Peterson tagged Tyner with thirty ticks left in the eighth and Tyner laughed it off and threw back at him. The meltdown continued for a once rabid Tyner who was now clearly gassed as he flurried in the final seconds of the ninth.

The final round showcased Peterson picking Tyner apart, with an empty tank the fight was far from reach for Tyner all the while his corner plead for action.

In the end Peterson dominated the once fiery Tyner, landing 245 of 682 total punches (36%) double what Tyner managed to land 77 of 436 (18%) according to CompuBox. Even worse for Tyner was the 6% of jabs he managed to land only 8 out of a total of 124 thrown.

Although it did not begin that way, all three judges score the lopsided bout for Peterson (26-0, 12 KOs) via 98-91, 99-87 and 99-90. Tyner (19-2, 11 KOs) losses for only the second time in his career. 

Top Rank’s top ranked new signee Korobov wins pro debut

In his professional debut, Matt Korobov of Orotukan, Russia, tangled with Mazatlan, Mexico’s Mario Evangelista during what was scheduled to be a four-round middleweight contest.

However, Korobov had other ideas for his pro debut and imposed his will perfectly. Korobov, who enjoyed tremendous success as an amateur going compiling a record of 310-10 along with numerous world championships and a 2008 Olympic appearance for his birthplace of Russia.

Now fighting out of Florida under the tutelage of Dan Birmingham Korobov looked to carry on his success as the latest of an elite group of Olympians signed by Top Rank. 

Korobov eagerly went after the body of Evangelista and although he landed heavy hands, his tough opponent refused to go away.

Determined to make a good first impression, Korobov continued to work at the midsection of his opponent eventually opening up a door in the third. With a grazing left hook Korobov shook Evangelista on the ropes, pushed into a corner Evangelista had nowhere to go when a monster right hook put him down sitting on the ropes and in no condition to continue. Referee Russell Mora stopped the count as Evangelista sat on the ropes and watched him waived off the bout at 2:01 of round three.

With the impressive victory Korobov (1-0, 1 KO) delivered what his outstanding amateur career would expect him to give against a tough opponent in Evangelista (1-2-1, 1 KO).

Martirosyan quickly destroys Howe, stays unbeaten

It took rising, but unchallenged Armenian star Vanes Martirosyan just over a minute to put opponent Charlie Howe down and out inside the Mandalay Events Center in Las Vegas Saturday Night proving that it’s time for this fish to move to a bigger pond. 

Martirosyan came out sharp, as usual and took command with on target punches. The former Olympian quickly found a range for his jab and followed them up with crisp right hands only a couple times before finding pay dirt. In only seconds Martirosyan tagged Howe with an overhand right that sent him crashing to the floor. 

After beating the count, Howe continued the contest, but not for long, as Martirosyan found his mark quickly and finished the still recovering Ohio native at 1:20 of the opening round. It was referee Tony Gibson who stepped in and saved Howe (16-6-2, 6 KOs) who lasted ten rounds with John Duddy this past June.

With the victory Martirosyan (22-0, 14 KOs) further proved that it is time for the talented super welterweight to step up the competition if he is to make a star of himself.

Barnett too tall a task for very tough Edwards

In an interesting six-round super lightweight contest Washington, DC’s Ty Barnett took on South Carolina’s Johnny Edwards in what proved to be a spirited contest.

Barnett entered the contest with what seemed like at least a 10-foot height advantage but was, in fact, merely five inches. The 5’9” Barnett took it to the 5’4” Edwards, surprisingly, on the inside, tearing into the smaller fighter with stiff straight hands to the head and hooks to the body. Early in the first Barnett tangled with Edwards, instead of sliding their way out of it Barnett decided to go ahead and tackle Edwards seemingly pan caking him on the canvas. After the tackle for a loss, Edwards regroup and finished the round. 

Edwards attempted to close the distance, but in doing so, left himself in an awkward position, constantly finding himself too far off balanced to counter what Barnett met him with. Barnett managed to hurt Edwards with a constant flow of left hands and right jabs, however the tough Edwards refused to give in.

After dropping the first two rounds on the cards, Edwards decided to try and drop Barnett in the third. After landing a monster left hand from all the way back Edwards followed up with an equally solid right hand that definitely put the undefeated Barnett on the defensive.

Barnett took the next two rounds to take control of the ring back, by the end of the fourth he had quelled the tiring Edwards and tagged his way to a majority decision. Scores were 57-57, 59-54 and 59-55, with the questionable scoring coming from Lisa Giampa who is just starting her career at ringside.

Fightnews scored the bout 58-56 for Barnett (16-0-1, 11 KOs) who stays unbeaten with the win against the very tough Johnny Edwards (14-3-1, 8 KOs).

“TNT” Tucker too much for Wilson

The opening bout of the evening featured two middleweights in a scheduled six-round contest. Undefeated Mark “TNT” Tucker looked to keep his young career moving in the right direction while Terrance Wilson looked to raise his stock having lost three of his last five dating back to 2007. The offensive minded Tucker sported a fresh Mohawk and fought like he really wanted to keep his moniker.

Wilson received a constant barrage of punches from the get go, quickly earning a mouse under his right eye in this first round. Tucker worked the body with the right and constantly threw bombs with his left, slowly breaking down Wilson. Outside of a handful of right hand crosses Wilson was grateful to counter his opponent with, Tucker dominated the contest. Although Wilson managed to take Tucker the distance for the first time in his young career the power and pace of the twenty-one year-old Tucker proved too much.

After the final bell rang all three judges awarded Tucker (6-0, 5 KOs) the victory over Wilson (5-4, 3 KOs) via unanimous decision.

Bonus Photos