Boxing News – July 04, 2019

BEATDOWN:

Parker pummels

Leapai on the ropes

With Matchroom Boxing having recently
signed WBC 115lb king Juan Francisco
Estrada, a unification clash with his new
promotional stablemate could
well be in the offing for Yafai.
“I want the Estrada fight,”
Yafai said. “I love that
fight. I want all the big
fights, all the big guys –
any of them.”
In the main event
at the Dunkin’ Donuts
Center, another unbeaten
world title-holder,
Demetrius Andrade, put on
an eye-catching performance in
front of a boisterous and expectant crowd
of 7,136 people. Boxing for the first
time in his hometown as a professional,
the skilful southpaw dominated Polish
contender Maciej Sulecki to such an
extent that he won every single round on
all three of the judges’ scorecards.
Determined to impress from the
get-go in the second defence of his
WBO middleweight crown, Andrade,
31, decked Sulecki after just 48 seconds
when a left hook connected high on the
Warsaw man’s head. It was a blistering
opener from the two-weight world
champ, who was more aggressive than
normal – especially in the first half of the
matchup – and put his punches together
in scintillating style.
The tough Sulecki, 30, kept coming
forward but was unable to land anything
of note, as Andrade exhibited fine
defensive skills. The American was able
to demonstrate the full range of his
repertoire, including snappy double
jabs and jarring lefts down the middle.
It wasn’t at all surprising when the local

favourite was announced a 120-

winner for each of Glenn Feldman, Robin

Taylor and Don Trella. Eddie Claudio

officiated.

In the ring after the bout,

Andrade made it clear who

he wants to face next

by calling out unified

160lb supremo Canelo

Alvarez. The Rhode

Islander roared: “Let’s

go, Canelo! It’s right

here. Let’s do it. No more

running. No more games.

Let’s put it all on the line and

see who’s the best.”

In his first outing since linking up with

Matchroom Boxing at the end of May,

New Zealand’s former WBO heavyweight

http://www.boxingnewsonline.net JULY 4, 2019 lBOXING NEWSl 13

ON FORM:

Andrade

impresses

against

Sulecki

VINCENT

RETIRES

PROVIDENCE’S own

SHELLY VINCENT bowed out of

the sport with a unanimous eight-

round points win over SIMONE

DA SILVA (Sao Vicente, Brazil)

in a meeting of former world

title challengers.

ruler Joseph Parker was in commanding

form against Alex Leapai – the 39-year-

old Australian who challenged Wladimir

Klitschko for three world titles back in

April 2014.

Looking to make a statement from the

start, Parker, 27, bombarded Leapai with

an assortment of thumping blows both

upstairs and down. The fleshy Logan City

veteran did well to make it through the

first round, such was Parker’s punishing

accuracy.

With his quick hands bamboozling

Leapai, Parker was able to connect almost

at will. Crunching uppercuts thudded off

Leapai’s jaw as Parker nimbly bounced

around on his toes. Well aware that he

was totally in control, the Aucklander

could afford to take his foot off the gas

as the fight progressed, although he still

succeeded in scoring the stoppage. This

came at 2-18 of the 10th (set for 12),

when a right hook-left uppercut-right

uppercut combination necessitated

referee Ricky Gonzalez’s intervention.

Following his one-sided triumph in

this battle between fighters of Samoan

descent, Parker proposed the idea of

a rematch with WBA, IBF and WBO

boss Andy Ruiz Jnr, whom he defeated

in December 2016 on a contentious

majority decision.

“I’d fight Ruiz again,” Parker stated.

“Big-ups to him for winning his fight

against Anthony Joshua [in early June],

but if he wants to settle his score with

me, I’d do it.”

THE VERDICTYafai will no doubt be

happy to see the back of Jimenez.

FULL RESULTS

Kal Yafai (114 1/2lbs), 26-0 (15), w pts 12 Norbelto Jimenez (114 1/2lbs), 29-9-4 (16); Demetrius Andrade (159 3/4lbs), 28-0 (17), w pts 12 Maciej Sulecki (159 1/2lbs), 28-2 (11);

Joseph Parker (241 1/2lbs), 26-2 (20), w rsf 10 Alex Leapai (254 1/4lbs), 32-8-4 (26); Mark DeLuca (157 3/4lbs), 24-1 (13), w pts 10 Brandon Brewer (157 1/2lbs), 23-1-1 (11);

Shelly Vincent (127 3/4lbs), 25-2 (1), w pts 8 Simone Da Silva (125 1/4lbs), 16-13 (6); Anthony Marsella Jnr (137 3/4lbs), 13-0 (7), w rsf 3 Jose Aubel (136 1/2lbs), 8-5 (7);

Otha Jones III (131 1/2lbs), 3-0 (1), w pts 6 Matias Arriagada (128 1/2lbs), 6-5 (3); Anthony Concepcion (158 3/4lbs), 4-0 (4), w ko 1 Yasmani Pedroso (160 1/4lbs), 2-7 (1);

Raymond Ford (125 3/4lbs), 3-0 (1), w ko 1 Isidro Figueroa (126 3/4lbs), 1-1; Alexis Espino (163 3/4lbs), 3-0 (2), w rsf 2 Kerby St. Juste (158 3/4lbs), 0-1.