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Undefeated Puerto Ricans
Dulorme &
Gonzalez Score Big Wins On ShoBox
Photos: Tom Casino - SHOWTIME
Welterweight Thomas
Dulorme and junior middleweight Jonathan Gonzalez
remained undefeated with impressive victories Friday on
ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME®.
In the main event, Dulorme (14-0, 11 KOs), of Carolina,
Puerto Rico, captured the vacant North American Boxing
Federation (NABF) welterweight title with a devastating
2:12, first-round knockout over late substitute Aris
Ambriz (16-3-1, 8 KOs) of Azusa, Calif. Gonzalez (15-0,
13 KOs), of San Juan, P.R., opened the telecast with a
solid, hard-fought unanimous 10-round decision over
Billy Lyell (24-11-2, 5 KOs), of Youngstown, Ohio, at
Chumash Casino Resort.
Dulorme mostly
overwhelmed Ambriz, twice knocking him down, the first
time with a powerful left hook. A wobbly Ambriz, who
took the fight on one week’s notice after Jose Reynoso
withdrew with an injury, made it to his feet, but
moments after absorbing a couple more solid shots, went
down from a right hand that left him out and flat on his
back.
“I was prepared
physically and mentally to go 10 rounds and I didn’t
come in looking for a knockout, so for it to end in the
first round was a present for me,’’ said Dulorme, who’s
ranked in the top 10 by both the World Boxing
Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC)
“I’ll be back in the gym
on Monday trying to learn more. That’s what I do best.
Every time I step in the gym it’s all about learning."
Gonzalez, more
workmanlike than spectacular, won a solid fight with
continual two-way action by the scores of 98-92 and
97-93 twice. There were no knockdowns.
“I’m happy with the result and the way this fight
went,’’ said Gonzalez, who is ranked by three of the
four boxing organizations and was making his first start
in eight months. “I expected a hard fight and I trained
for a tough guy who had fought a lot of good punchers
who couldn’t knock him out. We knew he was a worthy
opponent.
“Lyell was tough but it
was clear that I won. I felt I was in control and that I
hurt him a couple times. I had a few rounds where I
allowed a couple flurries, but they always hit the
gloves and I was never hurt. I hope to get back into the
ring again soon.’’
Lyell, who comes to win, always gives his best and had
his Youngstown buddy, former world champion Kelly Pavlik
in his corner for introductions, had no complaints with
the decision, or the scoring.
“He won, probably seven
rounds to three, so I have nothing to gripe about,’’
Lyell said. “My plan was to go in and back him up, but I
couldn’t do it. I couldn’t believe how strong he was.’’
ShoBox expert analyst Steve Farhood, who called the
doubleheader alongside blow-by-blow announcer, Al
Bernstein was impressed with both 22-year-old winners.
“Dulorme has it all as a prospect,’’ Farhood said. “He
has a pleasing personality, good looks, and when he
scores a knockout his opponent is left flat on the
canvas, and that separates him from the pack. He’s as
exciting a prospect as we’ve seen on ShoBox in quite a
while.’’
Speaking of Gonzalez, Farhood said, “the difference in
this fight was clearly Gonzalez’ obvious advantages in
size and strength. The fact his fight went the distance
is in no way a negative because of the quality of
opponent he was in with.’’
The Gary Shaw Productions doubleheader will re-air this
week as follows:
DAY CHANNEL
Thursday, Feb. 23, at 10 p.m. ET/PT SHO EXTREME
Friday’s fights will be available ON DEMAND beginning
Monday, Feb. 20.
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