Super Middleweight Fight – Saturday in Detroit
Andre Dirrell (19-1, 13 KOs) DQ 11 Arthur Abraham (31-1, 25 KOs)
Time of DQ: 1:13 round eleven.
You really hate to see a fight like this end on such a sour note. After thoroughly out boxing the formerly undefeated Arthur Abraham, things were beginning to get interesting as Abraham seemed to be rallying back. Unfortunately, this fight would be marred by Abraham’s illegal shot to a downed Dirrell that not only gave the German his first loss, but sent Dirrell to the hospital. But let’s not chose to focus in on the dirty ending, but instead laud the exploits of Dirrell who gave Abraham absolute HELL over the first nine rounds. Abraham had enjoyed the luxury of steamrolling over his opponents, save for the battle with Edison Miranda, but Dirrell would control Abraham like no one else before. Using his lightning fast hand speed, and underrated power, Dirrell kept the usually cautious Abraham in a shell through the fight, even doing the unthinkable, and dropping Abraham with a straight left in the fourth. But Abraham would rally back in the tenth round and it appeared that his shots were taking their toll on Dirrell. Unfortunately, the public would not be treated to any late round heroics by Abraham as the Germany based Armenian would have a moment of stupidity and land a hook to the head of Dirrell who has slipped onto the canvas. The punch put out Dirrell’s lights, causing him to convulse on the canvas. As a result, referee Lawrence Cole did the right thing and call the fight, disqualifying Abraham and awarding the fight to Dirrell. Dirrell was taken to the hospital for observation, but all reports indicate that he is fine. Abraham still leads the participants in Showtime’s Super Six Super Middleweight tournament with a point lead over England’s Carl Froch.
WBA Interim Junior Welterweight Title Fight – Saturday in Las Vegas
Marcos Maidana (28-1, 27 KOs) KO 6 Victor Cayo (24-1, 15 KOs)
Official time of knockout: 1:38 in round six
Man, Maidana is fun to watch. The Argentinean does nothing but bring the pain over the rounds of a fight. Few will forget his breakout performance against the ballyehood young Victor Ortiz. Saturday night, Maidana did it again, taking it to the supremely talented Dominican Victor Cayo. Maidana was in firm control, battering Cayo with wicked hard shots before ending things in the sixth with a punch to Cayo’s solar plexus that left him withering on the canvas in pain. A solid win for Maidana, who makes himself a feared opponent in the 140 pound division.
Vacan IBF Lightweight Title Fight – Saturday in Las Vegas
Joan Guzman (30-0-1, 17 KOs) SD 12 Ali Funeka (30-3-3, 25 KOs)
Scores: 116-111, 114-113, 113-114 (Guzman could not win the title as he came in 9 lbs over the 135 lbs limit)
You have to feel bad for a fighter like Funeka. All he does is come to the country, make weight, and fight his ass off. Unfortunately, in his last three fights away from his home in South Africa, he has come up short amidst controversial surroundings. First, Funeka loses a disputed decision to an overweight Nate Campbell. Secondly, Funeka is flat out robbed in Canada against Guzman in a fight Funeka was in solid control. Now, in the rematch with Guzman, Funeka had to face a fighter who didn’t even try to make the 135 lb weight limit. No, Guzman came in at 144 lbs; he was damn near a welterweight. Personally, I think that Guzman coming in comfortable got into Funeka’s mind a bit. He didn’t seem to have the same fire and intensity that was displayed to great advantage against Guzman in their first fight. Perhaps, Guzman just looked better this go around because he didn’t kill himself to make weight. In either event, the fight was close, but Guzman was able to come of the victor.
Vacant WBC International Welterweight Title Fight – Saturday in Monterrey, Mexico
Erik Morales (49-6, 34 KOs) UD 12 Jose Alfaro (23-6, 20 KOs)
Scores: 117-111, 116-112, 116-112
Few fighters have enjoyed as rabid a following as Tijuana’s Erik Morales. The future Hall of Famer has given fight fans numerous reasons to rejoice with his passionate all-action fights. In the process, Morales has captured three world titles in three different weight classes. After failing to capture his forth title in as many weight classes, having been bested by David Diaz, Morales retired two and a half years ago. But like most fighters, Morales found it hard to stay out of the glory he once enjoyed in the ring. Saturday night, Morales made his triumphant return to the ring following his two year hiatus; his opponent for the evening was former title holder Jose Alfaro. By most accounts, Morales seemed to exhibit the same fire his once displayed in the ring as the two fighters gave the crowd their monies worth in terms of two-way action. At only 33 years of age, Morales seems much older than he is, but it’s clear that his best days are behind him. Still, in today’s world of prizefighting, it is not unheard of the believe that Morales could very well achieve his dream of being the first Mexican born fighter to capture four titles in four different weight classes.
(Photo credit: Tom Casino/Showtime)
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