On Friday night in front of a sold out crowd in Fort Worth, Texas, former Olympian Luis “the Latin Legend” Yanez (7-0) from Dallas, Texas captured the WBC USA Super Flyweight Title against Russian Timur Shailezov (16-7, 3KO’s ). The event which was called “Friday Night Fights Series” was promoted by former two time World Champion Paulie Ayala, and Yanez was the main event on the card.
It has been a slow road for Yanez since turning professional in 2009, where he did start out with three fights that year, but because of lack of opponents, he only fought one fight in 2010 and 2011. It wasn’t until 2012 when he finally fought two more fights and in his last fight, he captured the Texas Super Flyweight Title by defeating Joseph Rios (10-6-2). His career is picking up pace now, because he finally found an opponent against Shailezov, a veteran fighter with a long list of credentials and championship belts of his own.
In front of a packed house in Fort Worth, Texas, the flamboyant Yanez made the walk to the ring with cheers from the crowd and in the background you could hear his own song, “Why You Running,” a composition he came up with in an effort to get fighters to fight him. It seems to have worked, because since that song, he has won the Texas Super Flyweight Title and now he has followed up with the WBC USA Super Flyweight Title.
In the first two rounds of the fight, both fighters came out swinging, with Yanez landing a quick left hand to the face of the Russian. Shailezov then quickly started to force the action and tried to land a strange looping left hand, but it missed. Shailezov continued to come forward, but every time he did, Yanez quickly countered back. Shailezov then landed a nice left on Yanez to the delight of the crowd, but again Yanez came back with several counter punches. Just before the sound of the bell before the second round, Shailezov came running out of the corner and was told to return. As the round began, Yanez starting swinging his left hand above his head, indicating that a big punch was coming, but Shailezov would have none of it, as he tried to taunt Yanez with the same gesture. Yanez stayed focused and was not bothered by it as he landed his jab and several combinations. Again, Shailezov attempted to land his strange looping left hand as he came forward with both of his hands to his side.
At the beginning of the third, the veteran Shailezov came out forcing the action, but with his hands to his side in attempt to try catch Yanez coming in. It didn’t work as the crafty Yanez landed a left hand, followed up by two other left hands as he bobbed and weaved around the ring. Yanez continued to circle around the ring and then landed a big right hand and then doubled up his punches on his opponent. At the end of the round, he landed a big left as the bell sounded.
The fourth round was the most exciting because after Yanez had landed a nice right hand that rocked his opponent, he then followed it up with a lightning right hand and Shailezov hit the canvas. He quickly got up and took the count and the round continued. In the fifth the Russian came out again forcing the action as if nothing had happened in the fourth. Sensing he was probably now behind on the cards, Shailezov continued forward and tried to land punches, but each time he was met with counter punches from Yanez. Close to the end of the round Shailezov accidentally head-butted Yanez, but both fighters were ok. In the sixth, things seemed to slow down but Shailezov was able to land a nice left hand as at the end of the round.
In the seventh, Yanez landed a triple combination starting with his right hand as Shailezov was forced to retreat in the ring. Shailezov then followed up with three big punches to the body of Yanez as Yanez was forced to the corner. Yanez then continued to land his jab as he moved around the ring. In the final round, with the crowd yelling, Shailezov again came out forcing the action as his corner was yelling at him that it was the last round. Shailezov then missed a wild left hand and Yanez landed a hard right to the head of his opponent. As the action frantically picked up, Shailezov landed a nice left hand, but then Yanez landed a left and a right hand of his own. As they traded punches, Shailezov managed to get a left hand in. Sensing the end of the fight, Yanez went after Shailezov and they both punched it out to the sound of the bell. Although it was a close fight, the quicker handed Yanez would go on to win the fight by a split decision. The cards read 78-73, 76-75, 78-73, but the knockdown made the difference in the fight.
After the fight, Yanez told NTF that he expected a good fight from Shailezov and that he felt strong throughout the fight. He agreed that Shailezov was an awkward fighter, but as the fight went on he quickly got used to it and picked up the pace. He knew that Shailezov couldn’t handle his left hook and he took advantage of it. As for the future, he plans to hopefully fight for a world title next year. He finished up by calling out all the undefeated fighters in his weight division and said “Come and Get It.”
Undercard:
Maurice “Mighty Mo” Hooker (8-0, 6KO’S) v. Adam Ealoms (3-2-3, 1KO)
In the Jr. Welterweight division, “Mighty” Moe Hooker fighting out of the Maple Avenue Boxing Gym in Dallas, Texas, took on the tough Adam Ealoms from Bryan, Texas in a scheduled six round fight. Hooker knew that his opponent was going to come out aggressive and he was right, Ealoms rushed out in the first round and just missed a big left as Hooker was off balance. Hooker then started to use his long jab to keep his opponent at a distance and then landed a short right hand and followed it up with another right hand. Hooker then went to the body to lower the hands of his opponent and then he landed another nice right hand. Hooker used all the ring in the first round as he moved around the ring and at the sound of the bell he landed another punch to the body of Ealoms. In the second round Hooker continued to use his jab as he moved forward. Ealoms finally managed to slip in a punch on Hooker but it had no effect. Hooker then started to size up his opponent and then landed a short right hand and Ealoms went down. They continued fighting after the count and Hooker then followed it up with a big straight right hand and Ealoms hit the canvas and the fight was stopped. Hooker wins by KO at 1:44 of the second round, one round earlier than what he had predicted.
Samuel “the Main Event” Clarkson (7-2, 5KO’s) v. Jas Phipps (3-0)
As the night continued to get more and more exciting, super middleweight Clarkson from Cedar Hill, Texas entered the arena in his flamboyant style, dancing on the outside of the ring with his hands raised to the enjoyment of the crowd. He faced the very tough and ring savvy Jas Phipps from Killeen, Texas. In the first round, the southpaw Clarkson came out throwing his jab as Phipps countered with a combination. The taller Clarkson carefully moved in close to try and land a few punches as both fighters felt each other out as the bell sounded. Clarkson forced the action in the second round as he landed stiff jabs on Phipps throughout the round. Clarkson continued to be first throughout this round as he smiled to the crowd while the fighters were in a clinch. In the third round, Phipps started to come on as he attempted to land a few punches and momentarily got Clarkson in the corner. Clarkson then landed more jabs on Phipps as he backed his opponent up. The round ends with Phipps landing a punch to the body of Clarkson. In the fourth, Clarkson lands a good jab and then he goes after Phipps but Phipps catches him coming in with a right hand. It is evident at this point that Phipps is a strong fighter with good punches in both hands. Then as Clarkson is coming in forward, he lets his guard down and Phipps lands a huge right hand and Clarkson goes down to the canvas and the crowd went wild. He quickly gets up and takes the count and the round ends. As the fifth started, Clarkson came out ready to go as he moved toward Phipps, who appeared to be very calm after the knockdown of his opponent in the fourth. Clarkson then threw his jab out and the counter punching Phipps landed a nice left hand. The same continued as Phipps countered everything Clarkson threw at him. Clarkson then landed a right hand, and followed it up with a stiff jab. Clarkson was making up for the last round and appeared to have gotten the better of this round. In the sixth and final round, the Clarkson fans were yelling “Alex, Alex, “ as the round started. Clarkson was able to get Phipps on the ropes and then Phipps switched his stance momentarily in an effort to puzzle Clarkson. As Clarkson landed punches, Phipps got the better of it with his counter punches. Clarkson then landed a nice stiff jab at the end of the round, but it wasn’t enough to outmatch Phipps. Phipps went on to win by split decision.
DeAnthony Bonner (2-1, 1KO) v. Theodore Walters (0-2)
In the lightweight division, Bonner from Denton,Texas and Walters, from Longview Texas both went the full four rounds in a non-stop fight with punches coming from all angles by Bonner. The first round was a body punching fest by Bonner on Walters in what seemed to be the entire round as Walters took all that Bonner gave him. In the second round, Walters slipped in a nice uppercut to the surprise of Bonner as his corner was yelling “Let your hands Go,” and that is what he did as he finished the second round. In the third round, Bonner pounded Walters on the ropes for a long time as Walters attempted his own rope-a-dope in what seemed forever. Bonner then slipped in an uppercut and then Walters started to come on at the end of the round as his nose began to bleed. As blood continued to come out of the nose of Walters in the fourth round, Bonner continued to land at will as Walters hung on until the end of the fight. Bonner won a unanimous decision. The card read 39-36, 39-37, 40-36.
Christopher Jones (1-0) v. Booker Arthur (0-2)
Middleweight southpaw Christopher Jones from Denton Texas came out head hunting after his opponent Booker Arthur from Rusk, Texas in the first round as he landed a big right hand and Arthur hit the canvas. Arthur survives the round, and in the second round, Arthur goes down again as Jones pounds him with rights and left hands. Jones continued landing punches and Arthur goes down for a third time and just before Arthur’s corner was about to throw in the towel, the fight is stopped at 2:11 of the second round.
Terrence Roy (10-39) v. De Shaun Williams (5-13-1)
In the junior lightweight division, Terrence Roy from Covington, Tennessee came out like gangbusters in the first round and held his own against the tough Williams from Galveston, Texas in what appeared to be an even round. Roy then went after Williams in the second as Williams just smiled as he blocked the punches away. Williams then got Roy in the corner and started pounding away at him and then he landed a right hand on Roy and he went down to the canvas. The fight continued and Williams landed another right hand and Roy went down again and the referee then stopped the fight by TKO at 1:22 of the second round.
Brian Jones (7-0, 5KO’s) v Michael Connally (2-14-1, 2KO’s)
Welterweight Jones fighting out of Los Angeles California and Connally came out super fast in the first round trading punches in the middle of the ring, but it didn’t take long for Jones to figure out his super aggressive opponent and he caught him with a vicious right cross that laid him flat on his face. The KO was exactly at 2:00 minutes of the first round.
Other world champions in attendance included Dallas’ own Curtis Cokes, former WBA and WBC World Welterweight champion, who also is in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
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