Mikaejian Dethrones Jack In Rematch - Pound4Pound.com

Mikaejian Dethrones Jack In Rematch

By Albert Castillo
Photos: William Trillo

Bash Boxing put together an 11-fight card from Ace Mission Studios in Los Angeles, California. The focus of the evening was Championing Mental Health. Bringing mental health into focus and awareness spotlighted the theme through a dynamite boxing event that featured a sellout crowd. Additional; highlight included the retirement of referee Jerry Cantu who was honored with a certificate of appreciation. He will continue to serve as a judge.

In the main event of the evening for the WBC Cruiserweight title, defending world champion Badou Jack (29-4-3, 17 KO’s) took on challenger Norair Mikaeljan (28-3,12 KO’s) in a rematch of their first battle. The fight was highly emotional, characterized by hitting after the bell, punching on the break, and hitting behind the head. Both fighters were guilty of these infractions, and both were penalized a point at different times during the fight.

In the 8th round both boxers continued to fight after the bell. Both corners jumped into the ring, fortunately referee Jerry Cantu got control and sent the fighters back to their corners and the fight continued.

The 42-year Jack put in some quality work but it was Mikaeljan who with a higher volume of punches earned the victory via unanimous decision and is now the WBC World Cruiserweight champion. Judges' scorecards read 115-111, 116-110, 116-110.

Highly touted Jonny Mansour (6-0, 2 KO’s) was tested tonight by journeyman Marco Antonio Rodriguez (12-10-3, 5 KO’s). Mansour was highly successful, earning a unanimous decision win in which judges scored the bout 60-56 all for Mansour.

Rodriguez fought back with a lot of heart, but he was outboxed by Mansour who continues to mature in his skills and ring generalship. Mansour remains unbeaten in his 6 fights.

Social media influencer with nearly 2 million followers, Tristan Hamm (0-2) did not impress Robert Daniels (9-2, 8 KO’s). Daniels destroyed Hamm in the first round by catching him with a straight left hand that sent Daniels reeling into the ropes.

Referee Thomas Taylor ruled that the ropes held Hamm up and called it a knockdown. At 2:24 of the first round Daniels landed a hellacious combination that had Hamm’s eyes rolling around in his head. Referee Thomas Taylor stepped in to stop the fight, giving Daniels the win by knockout.

Brook Sibrian and Gloria Munguilla fought non-stop from the opening bell to the final bell for the Vacant WBC International Light Flyweight title. The ladies punished each other with a multitude of combinations.

The skills that these women possessed demonstrated attributes of elite level fighters. The fight was extremely close as one judge scored the bout even at 95-95. Overruled by the other two judges who scored it 96-94 and 97-93 giving Brook Sibrian a majority decision win and the WBC International Light Flyweight title.

In this six round match up Julius “Juju” Ballo (2-0) battled an aggressive veteran in Juan Centeno (10-26-4, 2 KO’s). Juju scored with mixed combinations setting up his attacks behind a stiff jab.

A left hook to the liver of Centeno sent him to the canvas in the 4th round. Centeno made the count and buried his elbow into his right side for the rest of the fight. Juju continued to score but couldn’t put Centeno away. The fight went to the judges, and all scored it 60-53 to give Julius Ballo a unanimous decision win.

In the TV opener, Hayley Jordan, (1-1) outlasted Chantal Sumrall, (1-3-1) to garner a unanimous decision. Judges scored it 39-37, 40- 36 and 40-36 respectively.

In the first women’s bout of the evening Sasha “Hands of Stone” Saldana, (2-0) defeated Vana Medrano (0-2-1) via unanimous decision. 39-36, 40-35, 40-35. Saldana rightfully walked away with this decision as she rocked Medrano with several right and left hands that shook her head like a rock-em sock-em robot.

In the opening bout of the evening, Adrian “All Action” Boler (5-0, 3 KO’s) dropped Benji, “The Brawler” Gomez (1-6) with a right hook in the first round and then again in the second with a right hand to the solar plexus. Both times Gomez made the count.

In the fourth round Boler did all he could to put away ‘The Brawler.” Boler dropped Gomez two more times in the last round but the tough Oxnard native kept getting to his feet. The bout went to the score cards - two judges had it 40-32 and one judge had it 39-33 all for Adrian, “All Action” Boler.