Page 37 - Boxing News Magazine (January 2020)

ACTION

CHRISTMAS FEAST SEASONAL
RESULTS

O GERVONTA DAVIS’
Photo: ACTION IMAGES/PETER CZIBORRA move to lightweight
Dubois chews up the hapless was designed to
Fujimoto but his progress in MISMATCH: ease the struggles
Dubois thunders he’d endured on
2019 was impressive into Fujimoto the scales at super-
featherweight. But
before he fought
HACKNEY WICK Yuriorkis Gamboa
in Atlanta, it was
DECEMBER 21
the same old story.
He came in above
++ MAIN EVENT the divisional limit
+++ UNDERCARD but the WBA, who
had kindly created
FIFTEEN seconds were on the clock when it a nonsensical belt
became apparent that Kyotaro Fujimoto for him to fight for,
was woefully out of his depth. Suitably gave him an extra
encouraged he could land cleanly, Daniel two hours to get to
135lbs. Gamboa,
Dubois dispensed with the feeling out 38, showed flashes
process and scored with a jab that almost of his peak but was
dropped the Japanese fighter. ultimately dropped
Fifty seconds had elapsed when Dubois’ three times and
right hand scored for the first time. stopped in the 12th.
The flapping and wide-open Fujimoto to go far. What he needs now are rounds. Braithwaite, although he had to survive a
swallowed it whole, the effect racing down Tough and taxing rounds. Rounds that are brief scare. O THE December 28
to his legs before he regained control just not effectively over as soon as they begin. Regarded as one of the top prospects in undercard was not
before they collapsed. Despite the by now Joe Joyce is reportedly in negotiations as a the lighter weight classes, Edwards worked without controversy,
either. Badou Jack
obvious danger signs, the huge underdog potential opponent and that, already, is one effectively from range in a competitive looked to have done
– as much as 33/1 in some markets – of the must-see events of the year. opener. Braithwaite, though, managed more than enough
continued to box like someone with a On the undercard, the in-form Liam to close the distance more in the second to beat Jean Pascal
death wish. His hands were positioned out Williams impressed once again by halting round, which enabled the Liverpudlian to over 12 rounds,
wide, his footwork all over the show and Alantez Fox in a final eliminator for demonstrate his strength on the inside, only for the light-
his herky-jerky head movement borderline Demetrius Andrade’s WBO middleweight where he scored with hooks to the body. heavyweight veteran
comical. belt. Exhibiting impressive feints and to be awarded a
Fujimoto somehow fiddled his way Clydach Vale’s Williams – a two-division footwork, Edwards picked his opponent off split decision. The
through the opener, but his bizarre British titlist who made significant progress with some sweet single strikes in the third, pair exchanged
knockdowns, with
approach would have only one ending. in 2019 – started brightly in the opening and Braithwaite’s face began to mark up Jack going down in
Another jab, which slammed into Fujimoto round by dominating his American from the shots coming his way in round the fourth and Pascal
as he bumbled into position, dropped rival with quick, forceful jabs and heavy four. The fifth was a scrappier session but hitting the mat in
him for the first count before backhands. Yet it was Williams who the classier work came from Edwards. the last. Two judges
a beautiful overhand right finished the session with a nick Braithwaite’s use of increased upper-body favoured Pascal 114-
knocked him out at 2-10 of PREVIEWS... by his left eye. movement stunted his adversary’s success 112 while the third
the second. The 6ft 4in Fox began somewhat in the sixth, yet the young went with Jack by the
An undisputed ...for this weekend’s major to settle into the contest Croydon talent was still able to force the same margin.
mismatch, yes, but the bouts (Claressa Shields-Ivana in the second, with his issue and remain in the ascendancy.
Habazin, Jaime Munguia-Gary O JAPAN’S
finishing blow will play jab and strikes to the After a slow start to the eighth,
O’Sullivan and Jesse Hart-Joe traditional New
on highlight reels for midsection coming Braithwaite – the reigning English
Smith Jnr) can be found in the Year’s Eve fight
many years to come into play. Williams, champion – connected with a clean right-
December 19 issue and on night saw WBO
as Dubois’ education our website. however, was still punching left combination out of nowhere to drop super-flyweight
continues. And despite all with dangerous intent, as Edwards and take a much-needed 10-8 titlist Kazuto Ioka
the hype and expectation that evidenced by a solid right that round. The unbeaten favourite regained outscore Jeyvier
inevitably surrounds a promising landed in the third. Fox walked his composure in the next stanza to hit Cintron over 12
heavyweight these days, it’s important to back to his corner at the end of the round the target with jabs and follow-up rights, rounds (116-112
remember that Dubois is still just 22 years sporting a gash on the bridge of his nose. as Braithwaite failed to maintain his twice and 115-113).
Kosei Tanaka is
old and only 14 fights into his professional In the fourth, Williams broke through to momentum. Braithwaite was warned for another Japanese
career. His progress in 2019, in which he deck Fox with a perfectly placed right hand using his head in round nine, and it was a fighter to watch. He
went 5-0 (5), was impressive. The likes of down the middle. The menacing Welshman clash of heads that left Edwards with a cut defended his WBO
Fujimoto appearing with glossy records and continued to attack the visitor with gusto above his right eye. The stocky Merseysider flyweight belt when
getting swiftly knocked out is all part of the in round five, and things got worse for had his moments in the 10th, but Edwards he knocked out
process. the Marylander when he was deducted continued to rack up points with his fast Wulan Tuolehazi in
The starlet’s promoter, Frank Warren, will a point for holding. The deduction was fists. three rounds inside
continue to progress and showcase Dubois then rendered irrelevant by Williams, who Braithwaite searched for right hands the Ota-City General
in 2020 with the intention being that he is battered his foe with a vicious two-fisted over the top in the 11th, but Edwards Gymnasium.
on the cusp on the world title picture by salvo to necessitate the stoppage at 2-59. nimbly avoided the incoming fire. Sunny O OUR usual ringside
the end of the year. Also on the bill, Sunny Edwards picked then navigated through the final frame coverage will return
Dubois, such is technical excellence and up the vacant British super-flyweight title successfully to triumph by tallies of 118-109 next week.
obvious punching power, looks destined by unanimously outpointing Marcel and 117-110 twice.

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