Stoppages punctuate Boxcino middleweight quarterfinals

Stoppages punctuate Boxcino middleweight quarterfinals

Friday night at the Horseshoe Casino, Banner Promotions had its Boxcino quarterfinals of their eight man middleweight tournament.

In the most competitive fight of the night 27 year old Willie Monroe Jr (16-1, 6 KOs) won a unanimous decision over Donatas Bondas (18-5-1, 6 KOs). The judges scored it 58-56, 59-55, 59-55.

The fight seemed closer than the judges scored it but Monroe did enough to win the decision.

Vitalii Kopylenko (23-0, 13 KOs)  destroyed Cerresso Fort (17-3-1, 11 KOs) via second round TKO. Time of the stoppage was 0:43.

The 30 year old Kopylenko wobbled the overmatched Fort a couple times in the first round with his jab. He came out in round two and put Fort down with a jab.

Fort showed heart in getting up but Kopylenko followed up and put Fort down again. Fort was clearly hurt and the referee stopped the fight.

Kopylenko who was the most impressive fighter of the night, takes on Monroe in the semi-finals.

In the opening bout Brandon Adams (13-0, 9 KOs) scored an impressive TKO as Daniel Edouard‘s corner stopped the fight after the fourth round.

Edouard (23-5-2, 12 KOs) was dropped hard by a sizzling left hook from Adams in the fourth round. Edouard survived the round but it was soon over.

Adams is 24 years old and the least experienced professional in this tournament. He has now scored six straight knockouts.

In a wild slugfest 29 year old Raymond Gatica (14-2, 9 KOs) exposed previously undefeated
Sena Agbeko (15-1, 15 KOs) winning by TKO in the fourth round.

Neither men showed much in terms of technique or skill. Gatica advances to face undefeated Adams next.

The card was televised by ESPN2.

-David Lopez / @PRLopez333

-Contributor to www.BehindTheGloves.com