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Canelo Dominates Charlo
By William Trillo
Photos: German Villasenor
Any hopes or dreams that Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (60-2-2,
39 KO’s) would fade in the late rounds versus Jermell
Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KO’s) have been squashed. Looking
sharper than we have seen lately, a polished Canelo was
in complete control from the start and remained so until
the final bell rang after twelve impressive rounds. It
was the type of performance that will keep Alvarez on
top of the Pound4Pound rankings for the remainder of
2023.
Without a significant jab, Charlo was unable to keep the
charging Canelo off him all night. Any movement by
Charlo to escape was cut off by Canelo who appeared to
be at the top of his game all night. Outside of a decent
round five, it was difficult to see Charlo winning any
rounds.
Inside the first minute of round seven, Canelo landed a
crushing right hand that forced Charlo to take a knee.
Taking the eight count, Charlo was able to weather the
storm. After that, credit where credit is due, hats off
to Charlo for going the distance with one of today’s
best champions.
Judges score totals read 119-108 and 118-109 twice, all
in favor of Canelo.
With the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO World Super Middleweight
belts still in his possession, we can look forward to a
major event coming on Cinco De Mayo 2023.
As Alvarez stated after the fight, “Nobody can beat this
Canelo!”
Jesus Alejandro Ramos Jr. (20-1, 16 KO’s) was on the
receiving end of one of the worst decisions rendered in
2023. The fans booed as the “winner” Erickson Lubin
(26-2, 18 KO’s) gave his victory speech. If someone were
to suggest, “The Fix Was In”, it would be hard to argue
with them. Lubin was gifted a decision by scores of
115-113, 116-112 and 117-111.
To his credit Jesus Ramos did not complain but rather
stated he learned never to let the fight go the the
judges scorecards again. On the eve of his 28th
birthday, Lubin was unceremoniously handed the WBC
Diamond Super Welterweight belt.
Yordenis Ugas (27-6, 12 KO’s) was a game warrior but he
just not keep up with the heat thatMario Barrios (28-2,
18 KO’s) brought into the ring. Dropping Ugas early with
a power jab, Barrios was just too strong for the
37-year-old. With his eye swelling with each passing
round, it was questionable to let the fight go on.
Barrios sent Ugas to the floor two more times in round
twelve, capping off a commanding show. Final scores all
in favor of Barrios read 117-108 and 118-107 twice.
Barrios captured the WBC Interim World Welterweight
title with the victory.
It was a fan friendly Middleweight battle that must have
had the Punchstat team nursing a case of writers cramps
at its conclusion. It was punches in bunches from both
fighters but it was Elijah Garcia (16-0, 12 KO’s) who
uncorked a triple right hook to the body and head of
Jose Armando Resendiz (14-2, 10 KO’s) in round eight
that sealed the deal. Resendiz rose to his feet and
tried to recover but it was to no avail. The fight was
waved at the 1:23 mark of that eighth and final round.
Frank Sanchez (23-0, 16 KO’s) made Scott Alexander
(17-6-2, 9 KO’s) quit after four rounds in this battle
for the WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight strap.
Don’t look now but Light Heavyweight Oleksandr Gvozdyk
(20-1, 16 KO’s) is back. Just ask Isaac Rodrigues (28-5,
22 KO’s) about that. Wasting little time Gvozdyk crushed
Rodrigues in a two round demolition. Look for Oleksandr
to climb back up to the top of the 175 pound division.
Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela (28-3-1, 17 KO’s) stopped Yeis
Gabriel Solano (15-3, 10 KO’s) in the sixth round of a
scheduled eight round Super Lightweight battle.
Middleweight Terrell Gausha (24-3-1, 12 KO’s) squeaked
out and eight round Majority Decision over KeAndrae
Leatherwood (23-9-1, 13 KO’s). Scores read 76-76 even
and two judges saw it identical for Gausha 78-74.
Super Middleweight Bek Nurmaganbet (11-0, 9 KO’s) needed
just three rounds to dispatch his foe Abimbola Osundairo
(5-0, 3 KO’s).
Middleweights Abilkhan Amankul (4-0-1, 4 KO’s) and
Joeshon James (7-0-2, 4 KO’s) fought to a uneventful
Draw. Scores read 39-37 for Amankul and 38-38 twice.
In the walkout bout, Justin Viloria (4-0, 3 KO’s) took a
four round unanimous decision over Angel Barrera (4-2)
in a four round Super Featherweight closer.
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