Luis Ortiz stops Bryant Jennings to retain interim WBA title
In the main event of a stacked “Boxing After Dark” card at the Turning Stone Casino Resort in Verona, New York, unbeaten heavyweight Luis Ortiz improved his record to 25-0, 22 KOs, against solid American heavyweight Bryant Jennings (19-2, 10 KOs).
Based now in Miami, the Cuban Ortiz certainly looked the part of a heavyweight boxer. Although Jennings was busier having landed more punches, the 36-year-old Ortiz looked very much in control of the majority of the fight landing big power punches.
From the very first round, Ortiz hurt Jennings with a power right hand, in which Jennings was very lucky to have made it out of the round. Jennings was also hurt in the third round from a big left hand that was set-up with an uppercut from Ortiz.
As the fight progressed, it was clear that Jennings was trying to stifle Ortiz’s power punching by smothering him and fighting on the inside.
But then in the seventh round, Jennings goes down from a vicious left uppercut. After the eight-count, Ortiz then proceeded to follow up with a big right hook that had the American bouncing off the ropes. Referee Dick Pakozdi quickly stops the fight at 2:41 of Round 7.
Jennings summed up the fight with a degree of honesty in a post fight interview with Max Kellerman:
“It was me underestimating his pedigree and me thinking that my pressure…I was fighting pressure with pedigree and he outlasted me.”
It was also revealed in the post fight interview that Ortiz had the flu throughout the week, with the Cuban coughing during the interview.
With a solid chin and generally sound defense, Jennings presented a sizable challenge for the Cuban. The victory solidifies his ranking in the division as a viable threat to any heavyweights.
The victory also has increased significance since the dethroning of Wladimir Klitschko a couple weeks back, as the landscape of the heavyweight division suddenly feels like it is “up-for-grabs” and shifting for the better.
With the victory, Ortiz has knocked out his last six opponents (one KO overturned due to a failed drug test). He moves on to look at potential fights against the likes of Tyson Fury and David Haye in 2016.
Nicholas Walters vs. Jason Sosa Super Featherweight
Nicholas Walters fought Jason Sosa to a majority draw decision.
Both Walters and Sosa preferred close quarters exchanging body shots and uppercuts. Ultimately Sosa would fire at a more frequent rate, but it was Walters that would connect.
At the halfway point, the exertion of Sosa and the effectiveness of Walters began to take its toll on the contest. Still attempting a high rate of exchange that would continue until the final bell, Sosa began to fade back and found himself occasionally on the ropes.
The accuracy of Walters was fantastic and his defense was clinic worthy.
On most onlookers accounts, Sosa was to be given a badge of courage for a valiant performance, but nothing more.
The contest went all 10 scheduled rounds and final Compu Box numbers had Walters connecting 281 on 622 thrown for 45% while Sosa managed a mere 168 on 873 for 19%.
Recent Hall of Fame recipient Harold Lederman scored the fight a perfect shutout for Nicholas Walters. However, onlookers and Compu Box are not granted the authority to decide a winner.
And when the scorecards returned from the 3 commissioned judges on hand, the fight ended in a controversial draw.
The surprising decision took the spotlight away from Walters’ utterly dominant performance against a very game but outclassed Sosa, who hasn’t lost since a first-round knockout in his fifth pro fight in 2010.
Walters seems to be a fighter that is attracting bad luck in recent outings. In his last fight, he was stripped of his featherweight title for failing to make the 126-pound weight limit against Miguel Marriaga. Although clearly winning, he heard criticism from fans for not knocking out his opponent.
Clearly one of the top fighters in the featherweight division, Walters will be looking to regain lost momentum in 2016.
Gabriel Rosado vs. Joshua Clottey Middleweight
Gabriel Rosado defeated Joshua Clottey via unanimous decision with the judges scoring the bout 97-93, 97-93, 96-94. Clearly in control through the opening rounds, Clottey found confidence over Rosado with his left hook.
It allowed him to stay busy and dictate the pace of the fight early on. However, the size of Rosado eventually caught up with the smaller Clottey. Beginning in the fifth and remaining until the final bell, Rosado seemed to have the upper hand.
He became the aggressor and landed the more effective shots via uppercuts and left hooks. By the final round, the once offensive Clottey was forced mostly in a defensive posture.
Still, given the early lead, the fight remained close and forced activity from both fighters. However in the end, the favor of the judges belonged to Rosado in a competitive contest.
– Ben Barrogo / @Benjamin Barroga (Main event)
– Mark Hampton / @calmopinto92 (Undercard)
– Photo Credit / Alex Menendez – HoganPhotos/Golden Boy Promotions
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