Contributor: Nolan Howell
Heavyweight: Anthony Joshua defeated Eric Molina by third-round TKO to retain the IBF World heavyweight title.
As expected, Joshua made quick work of Molina in Manchester during the afternoon portion of Showtime Championship Boxing. Joshua handled proceedings with superior technique in the first two rounds before landing a right hand that dropped Molina in the corner and following up for the stoppage after the knockdown. Joshua looked as impressive as ever and moves on to take on Wladimir Klitschko in a fight that could recapture some magic the heavyweight division in boxing has missed for a long while.
Elsewhere on the card in UK televised action, Dillian Whyte edged Dereck Chisora on the cards for a split decision win at heavyweight in what some are calling fight of the year. Olympian Katie Taylor earned another victory, heavyweight Luis Ortiz finished David Allen, Scott Quigg earned the WBA International featherweight title with an impressive KO over Jose Cayetano, and Luis Concepcion dropped the WBA World super flyweight title on the scales and Khalid Yafai picked it up with a unanimous decision win.
Featherweight: Abner Mares defeated Jesus Cuellar by split decision to win the WBA World featherweight title.
Mares returned Saturday night and looked sharp as he fought inside with Cuellar. Mares ended up earning the nod in a fight where Cuellar was the more aggressive fighter with heavier punches, but he had to take two or three sharp counters from Mares coming in as he chanced landing one. Despite the power advantage, Mares was able to time him with a right hand for a knockdown late that sealed the deal. Mares can wait out the winner of a potential Frampton vs. Santa Cruz rematch next in what would be a barnburner for top dog status at featherweight.
Super Welterweight: Jermall Charlo defeated Julian Williams by fifth-round KO to retain the IBF World super welterweight title.
Williams fought a smart fight against Charlo, but a second-round knockdown off a jab from the champion foreshadowed things to come. Williams overextended on a punch in the fifth and Charlo stepped back and followed with a right uppercut that Williams shouldn’t have returned from. Charlo finished soon after and was not having any post-fight pleasantries from Williams, much to the disdain of the crowd. Charlo wants “Canelo” Alvarez next, but Demetrius Andrade crashed the post-fight presser and seems to be a more suitable challenge for the senior Charlo.
-Nolan can be reached @undercardnolan or at [email protected]
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