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Wallin Cruises To Unanimous Decision
Over Booker At Detroit Brawl In Dearborn
#11-rated heavyweight Otto Wallin of Sweden cruised to a
clear and workmanlike unanimous 10-round decision over
disappointed hometown hopeful Rydell Booker tonight in the
main event of Salita Promotions’ Detroit Brawl event in the
Lincoln Ballroom of the Ford Community & Performing Arts
Center in Dearborn, Michigan.
Booker (26-6-1, 13 KOs) started out having some limited
success, but the superior conditioning and harder punches of
the world-class Wallin (24-1, 14 KOs) eventually wore the
Detroiter down to an ever-worsening degree as the rounds
progressed. By the end of the final round, Wallin had things
all his way, landing punishing shots to the head and body of
his fatigued foe.
The scores were 99-91, 100-90 and 99-91.
“I want to say thanks to everyone who came out,” said a
happy Wallin, post-fight. “It’s my first time in Michigan
and I really enjoyed it. (Tyson) Fury forgot about me. He
doesn’t want to fight, but I’m still going to be the next
heavyweight champion from Sweden, no matter who I have to
beat.”
IBF #4, WBA #13, WBO #11 and The Ring #7-rated contender
Shohjahon Ergashev kept his world championship run alive and
moved to 22-0, 19 KOs with a unanimous eight-round decision
over Luis Alberto Veron (19-4-2, 9 KOs) of Argentina.
Despite having never been down before, Veron found himself
on the canvas twice from the power punches of Ergashev, once
in the second from a straight left and again in the fifth
from a body shot. Veron was also cut over the right eye in
round seven. Ergashev lost a point in round seven for
pushing down on the head of Veron.
Although he saw his current knockout streak come to an end,
Ergashev was never in any danger and cruised to a 79-70
unanimous victory from all three judges.
In with a “step-up” opponent, fast-rising super welterweight
powerhouse Marlon “The Savage” Harrington (8-0, 7 KOs) of
Detroit passed the test with flying colors by dismantling
former contender Azael Cosio (21-10-2, 18 KOs) Santa Marta,
Panama via a dominant fourth-round KO.
Showing good ring generalship, Harrington was in control
throughout, landing several choice uppercuts and body shots
before a hard right hand left Cosio in a heap in the neutral
corner at the :38 second mark. No count was necessary, as
Cosio was pouring blood from the right ear from the force of
Harrington’s blows.
Former amateur star turned undefeated professional
middleweight Joseph Hicks Jr. (2-0, 2 KOs) put on a
body-shot clinic while taking out Argentinean veteran Bruno
Leonardo Romay (21-10, 18 KOs) of Buenos Aires at 2:12
second round.
Boxing smoothly, Hicks was considerably faster than his
South American foe. He whipped uppercuts to the chin and
body shots to the pit of the stomach around his southpaw
opponent’s wide left hands. He dropped a gasping Romay twice
before referee Gerard White reached the 10 count.
Undefeated super welterweight Husam Al Mashhadi (3-0, 3 KOs)
of Dearborn ran through pro debuting Milton Banks of Conroe,
Texas. The power punching Mashhadi landed a pair of body
shots, each producing a knockdown. And although Banks rose
bravely from both, referee Frank Garza called a merciful
halt at just 1:26 of the first.
Other Results:
Da’Velle Smith (3-0, 3 KOs) KO 1 (time 1:50) over Brandon
Baue of Troy, Missouri.
Ferris Dixon Jr. (3-0, 2 KOs) KO 2 (time :38) over San
Antonio’s Daniel Arriaga.
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